DARTMOUTH Town Council could upset its bread-and-butter tenants if a yachting party goes ahead in the Old Market next year without better management and communication.

And some businesses may have to be offered a rent discount as a sweetener, said town clerk Tracy Rowe.

Organisers of the 2017 Classic Channel Regatta have written to the town council asking for permission to hold a supper party in the Old Market during next year’s racing event on July 18.

Last year’s stop ashore left many traders in the Old Market angry and upset after they had to clean up after the party revellers.

Almost 400 people enjoyed the Saturday night al fresco party with food and live music.

But the general mess left behind and damage to hanging baskets and floral displays caused by marquees left some calling for changes over the organisation of hire functions in the Old Market.

Rayne Ward, who runs the Dart to Mouth Deli, said some shop units were more affected than others. ‘We were given little notice the event was happening,’ she said. ‘There are a consistently blurred lines of communication between us and the council. My main issue is they are not looking after their tenants properly.’

The council’s market working group is being recommended to look at how the sailing party can be successfully hosted without upsetting business owners.

Deputy mayor Cllr Richard Cooke told the corporate property committee the town would be missing an opportunity to promote Dartmouth on a grand scale if it turned its back on the big sailing race. He said there had been ‘a bit of a fuss’ about last year’s party but with better communication and management it should be possible.

‘It would be a shame if the town couldn’t provide some hospitality for this event,’ he said.

But Cllr Richard Rendle said it was not fair to push off full-time market traders and the sailing party was more suited to a marquee on Coronation Park.

The council charged the Classic Channel Regatta committee a fee of £300 to hire the Old Market last year but at the same time gave a grant of £700 towards the biennial event that runs for a week in July, described as ‘gentlemen’s racing’.

It starts with two days of racing at Dartmouth followed by the Classic Channel Race to Paimpol where there is rest day and a race around the Ile de Brehat. Then a passage race takes the fleet to Guernsey where the regatta finishes with the Round Sark Classic Race – all backed up with a programme of informal social events ashore.

Last year, organiser Bruce Thorogood said they had tided up and left the market in the same condition they had found it. He blamed the council for not telling its tenants or the market supervisor they were coming. He added the council normally sent in cleaners after the event.

‘We bring a high profile event to the town and we want to come back to the market square but the town council has to get its act together,’ he said afterwards. ‘There was a breakdown in communication.’