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07
Aug 2024
'We can't let Knaresborough and Ripon markets die'
Knaresborough Market is the longest continually run market in England.
The town was granted a royal charter to hold a market in 1310 by King Edward II, but according to records there have been markets in Knaresborough since 1206.
Every Wednesday, the town crier welcomes visitors.
Ripon Market also dates back centuries. Stalls pack the city's Market Place every Thursday.
It's hard to think of either place without a weekly market but the tradition could die if North Yorkshire Council presses ahead with a proposed change.
The council, which faces a £48 million shortfall, wrote to traders at the end of last month saying it was no longer prepared to set-up the stalls because financially the service was "not sustainable".
The news came as a bombshell to Knaresborough Town Council, which has been in talks with the local authority for a year to take over the running of the market.
But for traders, it means they have the option of either erecting and dismantling stalls themselves or packing up.
According to a survey, two-thirds have indicated they will choose the latter option.
A weekly market has existed in Knaresborough for more than 700 years. Pic: Charlotte Gale
Heavy metal
Debra Dawes has been selling flowers at Knaresborough Market for 35 years.
Ms Dawes, who lives in Starbeck, has multiple sclerosis and said at a meeting of traders last week it would be physically impossible for her to erect her Hollie Berrie Flowers stall, which raises questions about whether the proposed change is discriminatory as well as fair.
Baildon-based David Tomlinson, who along with his wife Sonya operates the Luscious Scarves stall at Knaresborough and Ripon markets, said:
Knaresborough is a good market for me and so is Ripon. I don’t want to leave but I can’t fit a stall in my van and even if I could it would not take the weight of it and all my stock. I currently get up at 4.30am to travel an hour to the market. I’d have to get up 45 minutes earlier to put the stand up. If the council does this it will half the size of the market overnight.
Luscious Scarves also operates out of Otley market where Mr Tomlinson says self-erect stalls do work because it’s sheltered and traders can park vans near stalls.
Numerous traders told the meeting self-erect wouldn’t work at Ripon or Knaresborough. They said both markets required heavier metal than that used elsewhere to enable the stalls to withstand the wind.
Independent Knaresborough businessmen Steve Teggin and Bill Taylor, who organised the meeting, are now trying to buy time to open talks with the council and find a solution.
'Harmonising' services
The council operates five other markets in North Yorkshire. All have adopted the self-erect model and the local authority says it wants to “harmonise” its approach to running them.
Harmonisation has become a buzz word at the council since it was formed in April last years, with everything from litter bin collections to leisure services being standardised across North Yorkshire.
But adopting this blunt approach across England's largest county is causing numerous grievances. Peter Lacey, a North Yorkshire councillor and executive member of Knaresborough & District Chamber, told last week’s markets meeting: “This one-size-fits-all approach is starting to poke a bit.”
Matt Walker, a North Yorkshire and Knaresborough town councillor, said the town council was particularly disappointed as it had been in talks with North Yorkshire Council for a year about running the market and had asked several times to see the books. He vowed to do what he could to help.
The council initially said the changes would be implemented next month but quickly rowed back by saying it will come up with a report making recommendations to the Conservative-run executive in November.
The council has said Knaresborough’s hugely popular two-day Christmas market, where 60 stalls and 10 hot food traders will pitch up on December 7 and 8, is safe this year. But beyond then, the threat remains.
Knaresborough Christmas Market
Hazel Haas, who organises the Christmas market, spoke passionately about the issue at the meeting. She said:
Knaresborough market isn’t just a market. It’s part of the tourism offer for the town. Even if this service does run at a loss, surely the council should put some of its tourism budget towards it. It would make a tremendous difference to footfall if the market died. Knaresborough and Ripon would not be the same without a market.
'People love the markets'
Kele Warrender, who runs the coffee van Kele Beans at Knaresborough Market, agreed the market’s wider economic impact needed considering:
A young couple came to my van and said the market was absolutely buzzing and they loved the atmosphere so much they decided to stay overnight.
Knaresborough resident Jean Carter attended the meeting to pledge support for the campaign to save the markets. She said:
I’m not just sad, I’m also angry that traders are being told to either self-erect or go. People in the town love the market and this is wrong. We can’t let the markets die.
Brian Murphy at his fruit and veg stall on Ripon Market.
Leeds-based fruit and vegetable seller Brian Murphy is a familiar sight in Ripon, operating not only at the main Thursday market but also on Saturday, when only his stall and a flower stall operate.
He said:
It’s a nightmare. I just can’t see how the market will go on if this goes ahead. My alarm goes off at 3.20am. To put a stall up would mean getting up 40 minutes earlier and it would be impossible to erect on my own.
Mr Murphy said the current November deadline was “not long enough” to find a solution.
Steve Teggin and Bill Taylor told the meeting they would push for no changes until at least April next year to allow time to find a solution. They will continue to talk to traders to work out a way forward.
The battle to save the ancient markets looks set to rumble on for some time.
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