Limit on car boot sellers ends decades-old event

John Woolnough, chairman of Melton Car Boot Sales committee, said raising money for charity with a limit of 50 cars was not workable

A village car boot sale is ending after more than 40 years after a new limit on sellers made it "unworkable", said organisers.

The Melton Car Boot Sale has been running near Woodbridge in Suffolk since 1980.

New rules introduced in October setting a limit of 50 sellers led to committee members deciding to end events on the recreation ground.

The parish council said the sales needed to be better controlled and hoped another one might be established at the site.

Earlier this year, organisers agreed to raise the cost for sellers from £5 to £7, but said the increase still did not make hosting events viable.

They said between 1980 and 2019 they raised £42,000 for Cancer Research UK and more money for the Bobby Moore Fund.

John Woolnough, chairman of Melton Car Boot Sales committee, said: "You can't raise money for charity with just 50 cars coming to the site to sell goods. It's unworkable.

"I have to keep £250 aside every year in case there's an accident and there are other costs too, so we need more than 50 sellers to attend the events to make them viable."

He said on a busy summer's day the event could attract more than 100 sellers, with buyers coming from Lowestoft and Essex.

The committee was due to hold five events this year on the first Saturday of the month, beginning in May.

"I would be heartbroken if we didn't hold any more sales at the site because it's been such a major part of my life," said Mr Woolnough.

Melton Parish Council said another sale might be established at the site, but it would have to remain "within the limits of what can be readily accommodated"

Melton Parish Council said at no point had it given notice to the organisers to cancel the sales and it had never been stated that the events could not be run on a limit of 50 sellers.

A spokesperson said: "This was their decision. At the full council meeting in October 2023, concerns were raised about the numbers attending the car boot sales in recent years.

"It was agreed to set a limit for the number of sellers and reverse the layout, so the parked cars were away from football pitches - in line with other events in the park."

The council said this was in response to complaints about the size of the boot sale, the congestion it caused and the state of the grass after some events.

"Mr Woolnough, on behalf of the organisers, provided the figures for stalls and stated they were between 40-60 in 2023. Based on this information and considering the concerns, a limit of 50 was set."