KING’S LYNN: Retailers angry over market relocation
Tony Seekings at his fruit and veg stall now on the Baker Lane car park while the Mart is in town.
West Norfolk Council has been accused of “overlooking” retailers after relocating part of Lynn’s Tuesday Market on to valuable car parking spaces.
Stalls had to be moved from the Tuesday Market Place due to The Mart being in town, but a row soon broke out over their new locations.
Most of the stalls opened for business in the Vancouver Quarter, but two were set up in the Baker Lane car park, at the back of Artertons furniture shop and The Deck of Cards.
The move angered High Street retailers, though council officials said it was a trial which would allow the market to trade while the fair was in town.
Bernadette Chappell, owner of The Deck of Cards, said: “The council put a great big fruit and vegetable stall, with two big lorries, and a shellfish stall at the back of our shops and blocked off around half the car park.
“We rely on that car park for out customers, particularly the elderly and disabled. A lot of people have come into my shop today and said it’s ridiculous.”
She also complained she did not find out about the move until turning up for work on Tuesday, and said shoppers didn’t know the stalls were there due to poor signage.
She added: “It would have been much better for us, and the stall holders, to be on the Saturday Market Place but, once again, retailers up this end of the High Street have been overlooked.”
Artertons’ owner, Colin Arterton, said: “We have nothing against the traders themselves, we love them dearly.
“The council needs to plug its brain in and think about what it’s doing. It will have a huge impact on traders at this end of town as we need that car park for customers.”
Anthony Seekings, who runs the fruit and vegetable stall that was moved to the car park, said the location was not ideal, and many people would not have known they were there.
But a borough council spokesman said similar plans were being considered for when improvement works are carried out on the Tuesday Market Place later this year.
She added: “This was a perfect opportunity to test those plans. Once the Mart has left, we will review the trial with market traders and local retailers. Comments will be taken into account when confirming the plans for the temporary relocation of the market.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Thursday 23 May 2013
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