Market traders in the town have complained that it used to be bustling but with competition from shopping centres such as Owlcotes and the White Rose Centre it has suffered badly.

Now proposals by Leeds City Council could see the market managed by local teams, such as the Outer West Area Committee – made up of local councillors.

There are now new hopes that these plans will help to turn the market around and help boost the town's trade.

Pudsey town centre manager Nigel Conder praised the move and said: "It has not been agreed yet as to how it will be structured but the likelihood is it will be run by a local team within the town.

"I think that because the management will be more locally based it will mean there will be more impetus to do a lot more with the markets.

"Management will be localised and I think that can only be a better thing and benefit the market."

He hopes that with some new strategies the market would improve over a period of time.

Mr Conder added: "It won't happen overnight but it is a positive and
very pro-active move.

"Hopefully the market will be more personalised because there will be someone on the ground 24/7 looking at what is going on."

Coun Richard Lewis said that the market could be thrown a lifeline if it was to be managed locally.

Coun Lewis (Lab, Pudsey) said: "Pudsey has a long and proud market heritage and indeed the signs welcoming people to the town describe it
as an Historic Market Town.

"I want to see the market back at the heart of Pudsey and I am absolutely committed to protecting that heritage.

"We have a great opportunity here to give the market some hands-on local management.

"The recent management changes have provided the council with an ideal opportunity to harness local enthusiasm, knowledge and skills.

"This would be the right way forward for the market, the town centre and local people."