Before wishing for more independents, here’s the slightly more interesting question: could you become one?

It is very easy to say Peterborough needs more independent businesses.

Slightly harder question:

What would you actually sell?

Peterborough City Council says the city centre is available for street trading throughout the year, although traders need the appropriate consent and must follow the licensing process.

That opens up more possibilities than simply taking a conventional shop.

Food. Crafts. Vintage items. Plants. Local products.

Something wonderfully niche that would make somebody stop and ask,

“Where did you find THAT?”

Applicants are advised to speak to the licensing team about available locations first.

Applications need details of what will be sold, proposed trading dates, insurance and a plan showing where the unit would operate.

 New locations can also require consultation.

Peterborough’s existing City Market already shows how broad “market trader” can be.

Alongside butchers, fish, deli and fruit and veg, the current trader list includes African fashion and fabrics plus computer games and DVDs.

And the council is planning around 20 moveable market stalls as part of its £1.5m city-centre programme, specifically with the aim of making specialist and artisan markets easier to host.

That could make the independent-business question more interesting.

Perhaps Peterborough doesn’t need twenty people immediately signing five-year leases.

It may need more people being able to test an idea cheaply enough to discover whether Peterborough actually wants it.

A Saturday stall can answer that surprisingly quickly.

If nobody stops, you’ve learnt something.

If you sell out by lunchtime, you’ve learnt something considerably more exciting.