The sleepy Shropshire town of Ludlow has come under fire from residents, market traders and local shops following plans to hold a regular Arms Market in the town square.
The plans were announced at a special finance meeting last night where market revenues were high on the agenda following reports of a continuing downturn in profits. A town council spokesman said, “The Castle Square market is currently open just 5 days a week, so an extra market day will bring more revenue to the town and also give local people more choice.”
Market bosses have outlined plans to slot the new Arms Market between the Local Produce Market on a Monday and the popular Farmers Market on Wednesday. “Tuesdays are totally dead in Ludlow so the Arms Market will not only help to liven things up, but increase revenue and help to put the town on the map.”
Interest from regional and international arms dealers has been high and a waiting list is now in place.
One angry resident said, “Many weapons on sale may fall into the hands of organised crime, rebel forces, terrorists, or regimes under sanctions should these plans go ahead. If Ludlow turns into the streets of Chicago or downtown Mogadishu then the Council will have a lot to answer for.”
But another resident said, “This is just a typical NIMBY response. I’ve seen the plans and traders will be offering a wide range of goods. On the fresh produce stall will be items such as free range grenades and live ammunition, and on the fast and ready-made produce stalls will be surface to air missiles and a selection of unsavoury torpedoes. On the craft stalls will be military aircraft as well as landing craft and traditional homemade cluster bombs. Chemical and biological products will be available from the non-perishable goods stalls. So it’s all positive.”
Park and ride arrangements have also been put in place for visitors arriving from over the Shropshire border with tanks and armoured personnel carriers on hand to ferry people into Castle Square.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Prime Minister, David Cameron has been asked to perform the official opening of the Ludlow Arms Market with Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
