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17
Sept
Ripon 'save our market' petitions signed by more than 1,400 people
Stallholders concerned about the future of Ripon's ancient market have collected more than 400 signatures on a petition that will be sent to North Yorkshire Council.
The paper petition is in addition to the online change.org 'Save Ripon Market' petition, which has been signed by more than 1,000 people, after being started on September 3 by Lib-Dem councillor Barbara Brodigan, who represents the Ure Bank and Spa division on North Yorkshire Council and is a member of the city council.
The Conservative-controlled unitary authority wants to make all stallholders attending the weekly Thursday and Saturday markets in Ripon to put up their own stalls to save £30,000 a year, but two-thirds of the traders have indicated they would pack-up if this happens.
Some say they would be unable to fit the metal frames and their goods in their vans; others say they would find it impossible to erect and dismantle stalls themselves.
A council-supplied and erected stall on Ripon Market
Brian Murphy, whose family has sold fruit and vegetables on the market for more than 100 years, told the Stray Ferret:
There's no way that we could continue as we rent and pay an assembly fee to the council for three stalls at both the Thursday and Saturday markets and it would not be physically possible to fit the stalls and the fresh produce that we sell into one van.
The same applies to other traders who have been coming to Ripon for years and that's why we decided to raise a petition.
We launched it last Thursday and in the space of two days attracted more than 400 signatures.
Among those to sign the petition is Sue Banthorpe, who said:
We can't allow this market to die. I've been coming here for years and it is a living part of Ripon's history that attracts many people to the city each week.
The org.change online petition page, says:
We strongly oppose any move that undermines the viability of Ripon Market, which has provided the beating heart of the city for over 700 years and we believe that implementing self-erect stalls without a full econmoic and community impact assessment, could seriously damage both the market and the wider economic benefits it brings to the city.
Will North Yorkshire Council change its mind?
Traders on Knaresborough Market raised a separate petition of more than 500 names that triggered a discussion on North Yorkshire Council's proposals at the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee meeting held on September 12.
At the meeting, Councillor Keane Duncan the council's executive member for highways and transport, said there were “no plans to close Ripon or Knaresborough markets”, adding:
While several traders own and erect their own stalls, some take advantage of the stall set-up service provided by North Yorkshire Council. However, this is a subsidised service, costing taxpayers around £30,000 a year.
After reviewing the current arrangements, we would also need to invest tens of thousands of pounds in new trailers and vehicles to overcome logistical problems created by the weight and size of the stalls.
As a result, we are looking to bring Ripon and Knaresborough markets in line with the other five outdoor markets we manage across North Yorkshire, so that all stalls are erected by traders.
We continue to engage directly with stallholders at both markets, along with stakeholders, to gather their feedback on the proposals and options for traders to erect their own stalls. A formal decision will be made later in the year.
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