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21
Aug
MP joins calls to save Knaresborough Market
Tom Gordon MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough has joined calls from local businesses and residents to save Knaresborough market.
As the Stray Ferret has extensively reported, North Yorkshire Council plans to make traders at Knaresborough market fund and erect their own stalls.
Plans are set to come into effect as early as November and many locals are concerned that the changes will reduce the number of stalls at the market.
More than two-thirds of traders at the locations have said they will stop operating stalls under the proposed changes.
There is particular concern that making stallholders construct their own stalls would prevent elderly or disabled people from continuing to operate at the market.
Knaresborough Market is the longest continually run market in England and a petition against the plans has now been signed by over 600 people.
Knaresborough Market. Photo: Charlotte Gale
The town council were in talks to take over the running of the historic market in 2023, but the latest plans were announced without the town council being notified.
As part of his ‘Summer Tour’ of the constituency Tom Gordon visited the market on August 21.
Mr Gordon said:
The administration of the market should be handed over to the Knaresborough Town Council, as has already been talked about. We were promised devolution. Once again North Yorkshire Council is dragging its feet to the detriment of local people and businesses. I spoke to many residents and traders at the Market today, and time and again they told me how special and important it is to them.
Knaresborough Town Council exists for exactly this purpose. We must keep Knaresborough Market properly funded. It brings so much life to the town. Defunding it would affect the town, and also the more elderly and disabled stall holders, who would not be able to set up their own stalls.
North Yorkshire Council is based many miles away in Northallerton, and, quite frankly, clearly do not understand Knaresborough. They should be leaving well alone. The council are meant to be supportive of our communities, and look to improve them, not just save money.
This plan must be dropped. Knaresborough Market’s future should not be decided by Northallerton. I will be meeting with the CEO of the council next week, and Knaresborough Market will be top of my agenda.
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