A MANAGER has been selected to help Oxford City Council run the Covered Market.

Elaine Phipp has been offered the position and was the “unanimous choice” of the council’s interview panel.

She will liaise between city council officers and the traders and draw up an action plan for improving the historic market.

Ms Phipp, who has previously worked for Whittard of Chelsea, Newby, Homebase and Wedgewood, will also lead the market’s management.

City councillor Colin Cook, the executive board member for city development, said: “She was the unanimous choice of the interview panel which included councillors (James) Campbell and (Mark) Lygo, as well as union and trader representatives.

“She will liaise closely with the traders to implement the adopted Covered Market strategy which has been endorsed by the council and traders. Elaine will be expected to provide marketing and retail support across both the Covered Market and Gloucester Green markets.”

The decision to appoint a market manager was made after a review carried out by independent consultants criticised a number of aspects of how the Covered Market, which dates back to 1774, is run.