Normally a 50th anniversary is a time for celebration but the mood was muted at Nottingham's Victoria Market, where traders say they're in limbo. It was July 21, 1972, when the market in Victoria Centre was officially opened by the Sheriff of Nottingham, Alderman Norman Hemmington.
A plaque commemorating the day and listing members of the markets, fairs and catering committee at Nottingham City Council still remains on the wall of the market in Victoria Centre. Meanwhile stallholders are still awaiting the outcome of a public consultation about the future of the market, which ended in early June.
They have been told a decision will be made at the end of July. It follows a proposal by the city council to review its operation of the market. Closing the market would save the Labour-run authority £39m running costs over the remaining 50 years of the current agreement.
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The council leases the market space in the shopping centre and provides a significant annual subsidy. Earlier this year it outlined options which included investing in the market infrastructure and requiring traders to pay full rent. relocating the market although no suitable buildings had been identified or another entity operating the market.
Stephen Taylor, whose grandfather Jack Hine was there on opening day in 1972 having relocated his stall from the Central Market, said: "I think the council have forgotten it was the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Victoria Centre Market. The council not mentioning the market's anniversary does surprise us a bit as only two months ago they were setting up stalls in the Market Square and across town championing small businesses."
Mr Taylor, whose Aladdin's Cave stall is one of the few remaining businesses on-site, said: "We have heard nothing from the council but they seem to be dismantling parts of the market overnight. Counters there when we leave have gone by morning."
Will Swift, co-owner of the Madhouse Nut Centre, said: "I knew the anniversary was this year but I didn't know it was Thursday. With everything going off it's been side-stepped really. We've heard absolutely nothing. We've had no update. It's disgraceful really.
"They had 600 responses - it doesn't take six weeks to two months to sort out 600 responses. A private company would have done it in a couple of days.
"What I think is the council are saying they can't afford to keep the market open - I don't think they can afford to close it either. They are going to have to pay the traders there compensation and it's got to be a fair compensation and I don't think they can afford to do that. They've put themselves in a really bad position. They've done that themselves. The traders are up to date with their rent.
"I'm only guessing but I think the reason why the time schedule is so long they are taking legal advice on how to close it. They should have done a lot more during the Covid lockdown - they could have kept a lot of traders that were there.
"They were short-sighted and they wanted the full rent. Some of these people couldn't pay - we're talking about traders who have been there for years. They are that disorganised and unqualified and it's a complete mess. Some of the guys who have been in charge of this need to hold their heads in shame. Not all city councils are like this. Markets are thriving in other cities. Why have we got this one?"
Nottingham City Council made no mention of the anniversary in its response. Acting Portfolio Holder, Counr Linda Woodings, said: “In its heyday, Victoria Market was a busy, popular market but sadly, although the small number of customers who still use it have great affection for it, it has been under-used for years.
“Increased service charges by the previous owners intu, bringing the market in-line with other retailers, meant the council has had to subsidise its operation for many years, turning it into a financial liability for us – a situation which was worsened by Covid severely impacting traders’ income.
“The sort of investment that would be needed is something we simply cannot afford when our budgets are being squeezed by other demands and reduced income from Government. Having carried out a detailed consultation on the future of the market, we will bring forward our findings and make a decision in the coming weeks.”
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