Proposals to relocate two of South Holland’s markets have been met with anger and disgust as they ready to return next week.
Long Sutton market will be relocated next week in a move described as “stealthy” by the town’s parish council.
Traders said they were “shocked and disgusted” at a proposal to move Spalding market to Victoria Street car park, but they say they’re confident that won’t be happening.
South Holland District Council has decided that from Monday Long Sutton market will move from Market Place to the car park behind the Co-operative funeral directors in West Street.
The parish council is angry saying it has not been consulted and it has been denied the opportunity to discuss alternatives to the decision, which was made during a confidential meeting.
The district council says it is working with traders at both sites to find the best solution to keep everyone safe.
An SHDC spokesman said: “The safety and wellbeing of residents, customers, businesses and traders in Long Sutton is our number one priority when looking to re-open the market.
“We continue to work closely with market traders to understand their needs and requirements.
“In order to ensure social distancing guidelines can safely be adhered to a new temporary layout is required, and we are working with traders to find the best solution.”
The district council says no temporary move has been decided for Spalding.
Speaking of the proposal to relocate the market Dave Burgess, chair of Spalding Market Traders, said: “It came as a shock and everyone was disgusted at it.
“I’m 99 per cent certain that we will not be moving to Victoria Street. I and two traders are meeting with the council to work out where the stalls are going to stand.
“I think we can get everybody in without moving too many stalls.
“Moving to Victoria Street would have killed the market and the town centre.
“We have been working with the council and thankfully they have been listening and are seeing the light.
“The council said they’re not going to provide stalls. That’s at all. Three market traders we’ve got to find stalls for. It’s not cheap and not easy at the moment, but us market traders stick together and help each other when we need to.
“We would ask everyone to bear with us as we get used to the new measures. Traders will be social distancing as will the customers. Some stalls may not be in the usual place, including some being in the Sheep Market, but I’d urge customers to look around the whole market when it re-opens next Tuesday.”
The relocation of Long Sutton market comes amid safety concerns regarding the current location.
SHDC has cited the following reasons for the relocation:
* Statutory timescales for road closure requests
* Expected objections from businesses to any proposed road closure
* Potential refusal of road closure due to importance of the road in the network
* The size of the market as it is currently would not map to fit with new government guidelines.
A parish council statement said: “We have been given less than a week to put forward alternative measures or argue the points raised.
“Due to COVID-19 restrictions we are unable to call a public meeting.
“There has been no consultation with us by SHDC in relation to the proposals they wish to implement.
“We are aware that district councillors have been visiting businesses to discuss the proposals informally but they have not approached us.
“They have denied us the opportunity to act on behalf of our parishioners in opposing the decision or for parishioners to voice their views.”
The parish council is querying as to whether Lincolnshire County Council’s highways department was approached over a possible road closure on market days.
Councillors also claim moving the market to smaller enclosed area with a narrow entrance will make social distancing harder to achieve and could reduce the number of stallholders attending.
The statement continues: “Holbeach market is proof that moving the market sees a decline in both the market and the town.
“A market has been held in Long Sutton for over 800 years. We feel strongly that the move has been made stealthily during these unprecedented times.
“We will seek to oppose this decision and ascertain why we were not consulted or given a chance to react and determine how and why this decision has been made.
“We will seek to ensure the market is returned to the Market Place as soon as possible to carry on a much loved community tradition.”
