A FISHMONGER today waded into the debate on market trading in Dorchester. Simon Bennett, 29, whose family look after his Taste of the Sea stall in the county town's Cornhill market, hit back after a shopkeeper appealed to a watchdog over unfair competition fears. Paul Graham, 35, a partner at Graham Woodhouse Floral Design in South Terrace, reported West Dorset District Council to the local government Ombudsman about its handling of the controversy. He claimed he was assaulted and suffered damage to his property during the long-running row, and suggested the market be moved to the town pump to free up Antelope Walk. He also wants to see stall fees raised in line with commercial rents in Dorchester and traders being charged an additional fee towards policing, street cleaning, and maintenance. But Mr Bennett, who also runs The Old Watch House fish shop in Lyme Regis, said: "Quite of a few of us believe that Paul Graham is waging a one-sided argument because he competes with five florists in Dorchester, not to mention the supermarkets. People come to South Street stalls for fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers - it is nice to see small businesses thriving this way. "We have street traders in Lyme Regis and everyone gets on, it is more relaxed and there is none of this bickering. "We support each other instead of this bitterness there seems to be in Dorchester. "Market forces and competition are healthy, and the market pitches have been there for hundreds of years - so why didn't Paul Graham investigate the situation before opening his shop there?" Operations and markets manager, and team leader for parking services at West Dorset District Council, Eugene Barnes, has been appointed as markets officer, a post which has been vacant for more than 10 years. The 50-year-old described his role as a "trouble-shooting" but said he could not comment on individual concerns of shopkeepers or traders. He said he will make a full report to the Dorchester Markets Joint Committee which meets next month. He will be liaising with both sides to ensure the market runs for the benefit of everyone, and said: "I will be making sure that the stalls are operated in a proper way according to Dorchester's ancient bylaws."