Walkers Stadium Sunday market is cancelled
A controversial Sunday market planned at the Walkers Stadium has been cancelled at the last minute.
Leicester City Council's decision comes after a row with city centre market traders, who feared their livelihoods would be hit.
Tomorrow's event was to have been the first at the football stadium.
The city council said it had been unable to grant the necessary licence and the market could be on hold for "a number of weeks".
City centre market traders are delighted by the announcement.
Dawn Alfonso, who runs the Dawn and Gary's Lingerie stall and is vice-chairwoman of Leicester Market Traders' Federation, hopes the delay will spell the end of the proposed market. "We're all very pleased with this, but it's just a start," she said.
"The council have back-tracked due to all the protesting we have been doing. They have buckled under the pressure.
"We know what they have done is wrong and they thought they were dealing with mindless morons – but we aren't.
"We've been here a long time and we're not stupid. We know what's going on.
"At last, they are listening to us now which is a start. Hopefully, this means the end of the Sunday market."
The football club and promoters LSD said they were disappointed by the late decision, particularly for traders who had already booked pitches.
A club spokesman: "We do not believe that the market will have a detrimental effect on Leicester Market.
"The same arguments were raised when LSD Promotions launched their market at Walsall Football Club and that market continues to go from strength to strength."
LSD promotions was due to run the first 150-stall market tomorrow and then every Sunday and Bank Holiday after that.
Linda McGillicuddy, an LSD director, said: "Our initial reaction is one of concern and disappointment for the many traders who are booked to trade on it.
"This will have a huge impact on their lives, as many are relying on Leicester's new market to help boost their income and flagging weekday sales.
"Our first priority will, therefore, be to support those who are affected by this and try and make alternative arrangements.
"As Leicester's city market does not trade on a Sunday, the market at Walkers Stadium is not a threat or in direct competition."
After the announcement of the new market in August, traders at the 700-year-old Leicester Market withheld their rent for a week and threatened legal action.
They said the council had broken the city's market charter, which protects Leicester Market.
The traders' federation also accused the council of making an agreement with LSD without consulting them, bringing its legality into question.
A city council spokesperson said: "We've reconsidered the processes we followed in terms of granting the Sunday market a licence and we now want to consult traders through a market forum.
"They say they were not consulted. We've decided to respond by running this forum.
"We need to explore these issues before we are in a position to consider authorising the appropriate licence."
6 Comments
by Martin, leicester
Monday, October 05 2009, 11:40AM
“Just stop the market. Who wants it anyway. The continental market was in Leicester again last week and boy does it show what can be done instead of selling the cheap tat that fills Leicester market.”
by geoff blore, ludlow
Monday, October 05 2009, 9:47AM
“I have met many leicester market traders at many markets all over UK as well as at Ludlow and surrounding areas. I've not heard any complaints from the local traders though.
The spokesman representing their interests isn't doing the traders there any favours & traders in general may decide not to attend any Leicester market.. This is a form of protectionism in what should be an open market to all market traders with appropiate
permission.
This is not good news for the city of Leicester & counter productive to the excellent work of some outstanding celebrities promoting Leicester so successfully.
I hope someone there sees sense very soon, especially with Xmas just round the corner. Markets are in decline.
This Sunday market will bring in traders with a wide variety of goods from all over world at very keen prices for the benefit of the Leicester general public. Protectionism will prevent it and everyone loses in a dying market.”
by ianr, melton
Monday, October 05 2009, 9:18AM
“What on earth are the market traders whining on about.
The Leicester market is awful, rude stall holders and below par goods.
This is a Sunday Market, they don't operate then so what are they complainig about.”
by Keith, Leicester
Monday, October 05 2009, 8:30AM
“So much for the slogan 'Leicester City Council Working For You' it should be changed to 'Leicester City Council Working For The Few'
What with this market and them also back-tracking regarding the early swith-off of the Diwali lights, they can't seem to get anything right first time.”
by eyesmart, west midlands
Monday, October 05 2009, 8:21AM
“Truly amazing!
Leicester market traders need to get a grip, if they are struggling they need to adapt, compettion is healthy and make you step up your game.
Moaning and whinging will initially yield the results ( market postponed) but once the red tape is cut i have no doubt that the market licence to trade on sundays and Bank holiday mondays will be granted and they can then like it or lump it :)
I trade on markets UK wide and certainly will be looking at Foxes sunday trading once everything is in place.
I will most certainly raise my game to see what trade i can take from Leics market moving forward.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Monday, October 05 2009, 8:05AM
“The whole thing has been totally mis-managed. Whoever was in charge should take responsibility. I still think that the traders are whining about nothing as Leicester Market does not trade on a Sunday!!!”