A popular farmer’s market was driven away from a Hamilton city location by Corporation of Hamilton parking rules, organisers revealed yesterday.

Farmers’ market secretary Deborah Swan said: “We were based at Bull’s Head parking lot, under the Corporation of Hamilton and it was their idea to move us down to Pier 6 on Front Street and it just wasn’t working there.

“We found that parking was an issue — vendors were being clamped and the customers.

“Customers complained and it became a big issue, so we decided to look for a new location and the Botanical Gardens was decided to be the better way to go.”

Ms Swan was speaking after the Ministry of Public Works announced the market would continue for its second year at the Paget attraction, in the JJ Outerbridge building, starting on Saturday.

She added that the venue offered plenty of parking space.

And Ms Swan said: “The market has done very well there. This will be our second year. We do very well and we’re glad to be continuing at the Botanical Gardens.”

Clamping has since been ruled illegal by the courts and the practice has been discontinued. A spokeswoman for the City of Hamilton said: “The farmers’ market was invited by the City of Hamilton to move to Pier 6 Passenger Terminal as a way to better accommodate their needs.

“The organisers of the farmers market, after several seasons at Bulls Head, had expressed concerns about the venue being too dark and not the ideal environment.

“They were also seeking more general traffic flow, more public visibility where customers could come across the market in the course of their Saturday activities.

“The City of Hamilton offered Pier 6 passenger terminal as the venue, a newly renovated building in a prime city location — rent free.

“The City also covered marketing costs to encourage shoppers to the venue. It was agreed by all to be an excellent location due to its high visibility on Front Street, the quality of the building complete with power, lighting, public bathrooms, and easy parking next door in the car park.

“The City of Hamilton made special accommodation for vendors by offering extended-stay parking, effectively discounting the vendor’s parking fees.

“Vendors were also well accommodated, with permission to drive on the waterside of the building, for ease of unloading their goods.”

But she added: ”Despite these efforts to assist the Farmer’s Market, people parked illegally and abused the discount parking system in the car parks and street.

“The city’s parking enforcement team attended to parking violations in that location in the same manner as in any other car park and street in the city, by clamping. It was unfortunate that those people chose not to respect the parking policy.”

Director of Parks Lisa-Dawn Johnston said: “Over the years, the farmers’ market has increased both its clientele and the number and variety of vendors at the market.

“The farmers’ market committee believes that a combination of factors, including having a café and relaxation area, providing child-centred activities and featuring a variety of community artists and special interest groups, will make the farmers’ market the place to go on a Saturday.”

She added: “We’re thrilled to be able to host such a wonderful community event amid the beauty of the Botanical Gardens.”

The market offers local farmers, fishermen, gardeners and craftspeople a venue to sell fresh produce, plants and craft goods direct to residents and tourists.

Craig Cannonier, the Minister of Public Works, added: “We hope that this partnership between the farmers’ market and the Bermuda Botanical Gardens will ensure the steady growth of the market by providing a centralised location at which local producers can sell their goods and services and also where the community can come together to socialise and interact with each other.

“The presence of the market at the Botanical Gardens is the ideal marriage of two entities which complement each other both functionally and aesthetically.”

The market will open between 8am and noon from Saturday, except during the annual exhibition, until June 25 next year.