A market trader being sued by Leeds City Council for hanging curtains has blasted “bullies” working for the local authority who he says are making his life a "nightmare".
Kirkgate Market stallholder Narinder Sharma, 69, claims he’s being “targeted” with a series of malicious acts. The curtain and pillowcase seller is being taken to court over hanging his products on the wall by the side of his stall – which the council says is “unfairly” encroaching on the market space.
The case has been adjourned several times. Narinder has accused the council of dragging its feet over the case, branding the thousands spent on the ever mounting legal fees “a nightmare”.
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The case was supposed to go ahead on January 16 but has been adjourned until April 27, more than three months away. Narinder claims the council failed to provide a necessary piece of information.
To add insult to injury, while building work is underway in the market, the 69-year-old says his city-centre stall is only one which hasn’t been protected from the debris, resulting in his products getting dusty.
He’s added scaffolding was erected very close to his stall without any warning, the day after his case was adjourned.
Leeds City Council says it hasn’t received any complaints from Narinder about his stall not being protected. But Narinder said: “I have mentioned it loads of times, even today. The trader opposite me has even emailed them about the dust and the noise – everything! They’re just liars. They are bullying me, they’re bullies.
“I have been targeted because I’ve gone to the paper [Leeds Live] - and I’m thankful for that – but somebody has got to speak out. What they’re doing is wrong.
“With all the work going on, they’ve sealed everywhere else from the dust. But where my night curtain stall is, they haven’t sealed it. All my curtains are getting dusty.
“Even the day after I got back from court, they’d put the scaffolding right over near the stall without even informing me about what they were doing. We can barely trade. It’s been a nightmare.”
Narinder, who’s been a Kirgate Market stallholder since 1983, opened up about what life has been like while having to battle the council over the “encroachment” claims. He said: “Dealing with the council has been hard.
“So many solicitors don’t want to take the case on, in case they want to work with the council in the future.”
Going forward, Narinder is worried about the legal fees which has amounted to more than £7,000 already with no end in sight for the trader.
He said: “It’s costing me money! The legal fees. They’re making life difficult for me. I shouldn’t be at court and I’ve been harassed over the ‘encroachment’. I’m not really encroaching, I’m trying to make my business survive.
“I don’t know if I’m going to get justice or not. I’m spending money and the council have loads of money. I’ve spent £7,000 so far and there might be another £5,000. My solicitor is going to let me know what extra he wants.”
A Leeds City Council spokesman said: “As previously stated, this action was taken after complaints were made by other traders regarding the unlicensed placement of stock, as well as causing health and safety issues due to the blocking of aisles and entranceways. Taking a trader to court is always a last resort and will only be taken after multiple attempts at engaging with the relevant trader.
“We are not able to make comments with regards the upcoming court case with Mr Sharma. Mr Sharma is aware of the reasons for the delays and the council is keen to see this matter resolved as soon as possible.
“During current redevelopment work at the market, measures have been taken to protect stalls in the immediate vicinity of the work from the impact of any associated dust. We are happy to discuss the need for any additional measures with stallholders who believe they may be affected, but Mr Sharma hasn’t brought this to our attention as an issue for him.”
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