The head of a national group representing traders has labelled Nottingham City Council "arrogant" after the authority suggested it would not meet to discuss the Victoria Market's future. Amid continued uncertainty about whether Nottingham City Council will close the Victoria Market, it has told the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) there is "little to be gained" from providing a "running commentary" on the site.
Uncertainty over the venue first started in January 2022 and Nottingham City Council has since been in talks about compensation offers with the 30 remaining traders in the event of the market's closure. Despite traders saying they were originally given a February 24 date by which the council was due to surrender its lease, this deadline has now passed without any further clarity being given.
Some of the remaining traders say the market is being "strangled" by the uncertainty the council's delay is causing. Joe Harrison, the chief executive of the National Market Traders Federation for the last 17 years, wrote to the council on March 10 requesting a meeting.
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Writing to the council's leader, Councillor David Mellen, Mr Harrison said traders found themselves in "complete limbo" after having "run down their stocks" for the February 24 date. Mr Harrison said he wanted the meeting to set a clear timeline so Victoria Market traders could be given some certainty.
In a reply sent on March 21, Nottingham City Council's Director for Sport and Culture, Hugh White, says: "As with any commercial deal, there is little to be gained from providing a running commentary on progress but we will ensure traders are informed immediately with any significant update. However, we can assure the traders that as soon as we have concluded this work, we will let them know whether the market will be closing or if it will remain open."
Reacting to this reply, Mr Harrison said: "In my 17 years in this role I don't think I've ever been so angry. When the council says there is little to be gained from this, there is certainly a lot to be gained for the traders.
"There is a lot to be gained when you've got a mortgage on the line and when you're struggling to sleep at night because you're worried about the future of your livelihood. I had offered an olive branch here to the council to sort this in a very professional manner, but they have responded over a week on from my original email in an incredibly arrogant tone."
John Easom, who owns the Gold Bank Jewellers, said: "Nobody knows what else we can do now. We had all agreed offers of compensation, even though right from the off none of the traders wanted to do this, but now the February 24 date has passed and we've got no certainty."
The city council's email added: "We are continuing to work with all interested parties to arrive at a satisfactory solution. We appreciate that this has been a lengthy process and that this has been frustrating for traders who are seeking certainty about what the future holds for them.
"We are doing all we can to conclude the matter as soon as possible, but it's important to get it right as we have a duty to ensure that the outcome is both affordable and represents best value for money for the taxpayer." The market, located in the Victoria Shopping Centre, has been operating for more than 50 years and, at one point, boasted more than 200 stalls.
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