The Council is trying to close the Victoria Centre Market, claiming that the cost of running the market exceeds the revenue obtained from it. The market is, and should be, an asset to the people and city of Nottingham. The Council has prevented new traders from obtaining leases and this is driving footfall down whilst we are trying to revive the city centre post COVID. The market is a lifeline to many people in the city centre and surrounding areas and, with the cost-of-living squeeze, is now more vital than ever. We think that the market should be allowed to remain open, for new leases and lease renegotiation to commence, and the Council should ensure that the market remains open in its existing location so that it can continue to serve the city for at least the next 50 years. The only reason the market is not performing is that the Council has banned any new trader joining the market and mismanaged it for some years.”
Started by: Stephen Taylor
This Paper petition ran from 15/09/2022 to 03/11/2022 and has now finished.
4375 people signed this Paper petition.
Thank you for the petition in relation to the closure of the
Victoria Centre Market.
Nottingham City Council is required to ensure that it delivers
value for money for taxpayers. The current arrangements at the
market, which the Council operates under a lease, represent a
considerable cost to the Council, which is estimated to be
£39 million over the remaining 50 years of the lease.
Within that context, the Council has been undertaking a review of
its operation of the market. To support this review, a six-week
consultation was undertaken, which ended on 5 June 2022. The
results of that consultation have been collated in a document that
has now been published. This highlights that there has been good
engagement with this consultation, with over 600 responses being
received.
The Council has considered the consultation feedback from the
public, traders and the landlord and, currently, no sustainable
option has been presented that would reduce the considerable cost
to the Council for operating the market for the remaining term of
the lease.
The Council is undertaking ongoing dialogue with all individual
traders and the landlord. The outcome of these discussions will
inform a future decision on the market.
Yours sincerely