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09
Apr
Breakthrough in battle to save Ripon Market?
Hopes of securing the future of Ripon's ancient market have taken a step in the right direction, according to a campaigning councillor.
Pauline McHardy, who with fellow city councillor Barbara Brodigan, raised a 'save our market' petition signed by more than 3,500 people, has welcomed news that North Yorkshire Council is, 'in principle' willing to give traders the market stalls that are currently erected and dismantled by council workers.
Last year the unitary authority announced changes designed to 'harmonise' the operation of all seven outdoor markets under its control.
This meant the council would no longer supply and set up stalls for those traders at both Ripon and Knaresborough markets who do not have their own stalls.
The new regime, due to come into effect in June, would also mean that traders would have to find storage space for their stalls.
However, at Monday's full Ripon City council meeting, leader Andrew Williams, who is also a member of the Conservative and Independents group on North Yorkshire Council, said:
In addition to giving the stallholders the stalls, North Yorkshire Council is, in principle, willing to provide free storage space for them in the city centre.
Councillors Pauline McHardy (right) and Barbara Brodigan, raised paper and online petitions and are championing the cause of stallholders
Speaking after the city council meeting, Cllr McHardy told the Stray Ferret:
Cllr Williams, Cllr Brodigan and I met with Jonathan Clubb, North Yorkshire Council's head of parks and grounds on March 26, to discuss the future of the market and it was a productive meeting,
I believe that we have taken a step in the right direction in our bid to secure the future of the market, but there is stiill some way to go.
We are now in the process of setting up a meeting with the stallholders to hear what they have to say.
'Worth exploring'
Brian Murphy, whose family has sold fresh fruit and vegetables in Ripon for more than 100 years, currently attends the city's Thursday and Saturday markets and rents space for three stalls on each of those days.
He previously said that for financial and logistical reasons, he would no longer be able to come to Ripon if he was required to provide and set up his own stalls and other traders would be similarly affected.
Reacting to the prospect of free use and storage of stalls for Ripon Market traders, who currently pay a surcharge for North Yorkshire Council's set up service, Mr Murphy said:
Time is ticking, but in theory this sounds like the best potential solution I've heard so far and is worth exploring.
There are clearly a lot of issues that need to be taken into consideration and I am interested in finding out more about the offer that North Yorkshire Council is putting forward.
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