A blow to traders

Traders and shoppers criticised the decision to close Newark market on Wednesday amid fears its future could be put under threat.

Seven traders, all selling perishable goods, were allowed to trade in an otherwise empty Market Place, where the forecasted 40mph gusts failed to materialise. Wind speeds were about 24mph.

The traders had to sell from their vans and lorries and could not display their goods due to health and safety reasons.

Newark and Sherwood District Council decided on Tuesday afternoon to cancel the following day’s market on the basis of a Met Office forecast.

Monday’s market had also been cancelled.

As the Advertiser went to press yesterday a decision was being made over today’s market. Tomorrow’s market is also in doubt.

Many in the town on Wednesday questioned the council’s use of lightweight removable stalls.

Shopper Mr Kevin Robinson, of Sutton Avenue, Newark, said: “We didn’t have this with the old stalls. I remember coming to the market in gales and a foot of snow.”

Mr Robinson said he visited Bridlington market last week, which went ahead despite strong gusts.

He feared for the future of the market in Newark if cancellations continued.

“It used to be one of the best in the Midlands but you can’t get as much now,” he said.

Mrs Janet Gulliford, of Kelham Road, Newark, said: “I just think it is absolutely disgusting because we will lose the market.”

Trader Mr Gareth Stones, of RLS Bakers and Confectioners, came from Sheffield for Wednesday’s market and sold bread from his van.

He said: “If they kept cancelling it would probably put me off coming because it takes more than an hour to get here.”

Mr Will Smith, of The Barn Bacon Company, at Hardy’s Farm Shop, Farndon, said the problem was not the stalls but the attitude of the council.

He said: “It is health and safety going a little too far. The market stalls are perfectly capable of withstanding fairly strong winds.

“Newark seems to be the only place that closes with a bit of bad weather.”

Mr Smith said he travelled to markets across the country that used similar stalls to those at Newark.

“They are just obsessed with health and safety and being sued,” he said.

“It is our livelihoods they’re messing about with — that is what they don’t seem to realise.

Mr Smith said they were told they would pay only half the rent for Wednesday, but said he would struggle to make that. He estimated he would be 80% down on his usual takings.

Regular trader Mr Clive Streets, of Streets Quality Fruit and Veg, was upset about the cancellation but could see the reason behind it.

“If something blew and hit someone we would be liable,” he said.

Mr Streets, whose wife, Mrs Jo Streets, is secretary of the Newark branch of the Market Traders’ Federation, said they had met the district council over the market closure.

The leader of the district council, Mr Tony Roberts, said: “We don’t want to close the market but we have to be cautious and act in the best interests of everyone who uses the Market Place.

“The weather forecast is just that — a prediction — so it may not be as windy as we expect. However, we still have to decide in advance to give traders as much notice as possible.

“As well as the traders, the council also misses out on vital income when making these decisions.”

The council said the old stalls would not have met current health and safety laws in high winds and they would still have had to consider closing.