After a slew of successful trial events, Kew residents have been awarded permission to operate their own market for its first full year in 2012.

The Kew Village Community Market, which has been attracting shoppers with its monthly market stalls, has won support of Richmond Council after capturing the imagination of locals with an array of independent stalls and a friendly atmosphere since it first opened in October last year.

Located in the roads surrounding Kew Gardens station, in Station Parade, the market will become a permanent fixture on the first Sunday of every month, between 10am and 2pm, from February 5 onward.

Simon Fowler, one of the organisers, was delighted the market would be there to stay for 2012.

He said: “We are all really pleased with the news.

“We have had a lot of support from the local community who all come out, all the Sunday markets [so far] have been very popular with local people and we have had very good stall holders.

“There is a lot of demand, there really is, and people ask for lots of new stalls.”

Mr Fowler said, since the decision, plans to make the market bigger and better were already being formed.

Councillor Pamela Fleming, Richmond Council’s cabinet member for communities, business and culture said: “I’m very pleased that the initiative taken by local people and ward councillors of both parties to set up the Kew Village Community Market has proved so successful.

“Now the council has issued a traffic order relating to the roads for 18 months, this will bring greater certainty to the stall holders and I wish them every success. A following has been built up during the past three months so there is every reason to expect the market will thrive.”

She said the council was keen to encourage new social enterprises and was delighted the organisers had formed a community interest company to attract extra customers to the area and benefit local community organisations.

It was hoped the market could expand from 25 stalls to 36 by the end of the year and local charities can be helped by donations from profits made.

Catalina Cassidy, who organises volunteers helping on market days, added: “It is a real boost.

“I’ve had lots of very favourable comments from shoppers so I’m really pleased we will be continuing.”