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06
Aug
Campaign launched to save Ripon and Knaresborough markets
A campaign has been launched to save Ripon and Knaresborough markets.
Both markets have existed for hundreds of years.
But more than two-thirds of traders at the locations have said they will stop operating stalls under a proposed change by North Yorkshire Council.
The council wrote to traders at the end of last month saying it would no longer provide staff to put up stalls.
Traders pay £28 a stall for the service, which the council said it runs at a loss and was “not sustainable”.
Stallholders were told they would therefore have to erect their own stalls — something many say is impractical and would leave them with no option but to leave Ripon and Knaresborough.
Independent Knaresborough business owners Steve Teggin and Bill Taylor held a meeting for traders last week as part of a campaign to save the markets.
As part of this, they conducted a survey of 47 traders at the weekly Wednesday market in Knaresborough and the weekly Thursday market in Ripon to get views on the proposal.
They asked 18 questions, one of which was whether traders would continue to operate from Ripon and Knaresborough if they were forced to self-erect. Thirty-four of the stallholders — 72% — said they would no longer do so.
Mr Teggin said:
The survey revealed astonishing results and there is a serious threat to the markets. Two-thirds of traders would not renew their stalls if they have to self-erect. As a result the markets would become unsustainable.
Mr Teggin and Mr Taylor are now assessing feedback from the survey and last week’s meeting to decide what to do next.
The council initially said it planned to introduce the change on September 1 but subsequently wrote to traders saying following “early feedback” there will now be a formal process, including a public consultation, before a report containing recommendations goes to the council’s ruling executive “no earlier” than November 5.
No changes will happen before then.
The move also threatens the future of Knaresborough's two-day Christmas market (main picture) but the council has assured organisers this year's event on December 7 and 8 will go ahead as normal.
The Stray Ferret attended last week’s public meeting and spoke to several traders. Look out for a more in-depth article soon.
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