City Hall has been accused of a “tick box exercise” by Norwich Market stall holders who feel left out of plans to revamp the landmark. Traders believe the council is wasting its money after agreeing to spending £740,000 on designs for new shopping zones and Italian-style piazzas.
Frustration grows over consultation process
While at least five meetings were held where traders shared their thoughts about the scheme, many feel this was a “waste of time” and a performative stunt. The anxiety of business owners is growing as the council offers some traders cash to give up their leases – potentially to make room for reorganisation.
The Labour-run cabinet at City Hall met last month to approve the £740,000 spend on putting together detailed designs for a revamp of Norwich Market as well as covering costs for small-scale improvements. While the authority has ruled out relocating it, various works are on the cards that could be “transformational” for traders and customers.
The council carried out workshops with traders to build a “clear picture” of issues to be addressed and any opportunities for redevelopment. However, some stallholders believe their feedback has not been taken on board. Mark Wright, who runs Taxi clothing, said: “We have been completely out of the loop – the consultation events were just a tick box exercise and a waste of time The only way of doing this right is by working with us.”
Mr Wright suggested the £740,000 for the next stage of the project could have been used to carry out most improvements that traders want to see – such as upgrades to the run-down toilets.
Vague plans
Norwich Market has been at its current home at the heart of the city for more than 900 years and is one of the oldest and largest open-air markets in the UK.
The last major shake-up was in 2006 when temporary structures were replaced with the metal-roofed permanent stalls we have today. Despite the ongoing success of the market, officials at City Hall say various issues are preventing the attraction from reaching its “full potential”. These include aging infrastructure, lacking features for modern use and environmental nuisances that trouble visitors, such as a large population of pigeons and seagulls.
Their plan is to make extensive improvements to market infrastructure. They also hope to introduce “new experiences” at the market, though exactly what this means is currently a mystery. Initial proposals outline the potential to create small ‘piazzas’ within the market, which would enable the creation of distinct “zones” and perhaps new opportunities for trading. The ambitious plans also set out a vision to “enmesh” the market with its surrounding streets, but it is not clear exactly how this would be achieved.
Council plans risk market’s ‘soul,’ say traders
Ron Fyfe, who runs Sixth Scents, a new age store, said: “That amount of money should just be put straight into the market. It is fairly obvious what needs doing – it just needs sprucing up. It seems they want to make everything more upmarket and they will suck the soul out of this place.
“I don’t feel they have the market or the traders at heart.”
Concerns over potential changes to market layout
Ray Harvey, who runs Harvey’s Cards, said the council had offered to ‘buy him out’ of his lease because he was believed to be close to retirement. However, he thinks stallholders have received these offers in order to make way for a new square or ‘piazza’ in the centre of the market. He said: “We have not been listened to at all throughout this process. We know nothing about it. We are being kept totally in the dark and it makes it hard to invest or plan for the future of our businesses.”
Sophie Soeng, owner of the Orient Express, said: “We have been out of the loop. We like working here and the market is a great community – I hope that doesn’t change.”
Some traders support the revamp, but doubts persist
Some stallholders are more optimistic about the opportunities that could arise from the expensive project. Hugo Malik, owner of Churros for the People, said: “I thought the workshops with the council were all very well-run and felt we were heard. People will moan about a lack of investment but then complain about this too.
“This will be good for the economy – the market has to adapt or die.”
Councillors say surveys of more than 1,000 members of the public were carried out three years ago to help inform the scheme – in addition to workshops with traders in recent months. A council spokesman said: “We are absolutely committed to seeking the views on the future of the market from a range of interested parties and Norwich’s communities including traders.
“The project is at an extremely early stage and the engagement to date has allowed us to get a clear understanding of issues and opportunities before we feedback into any further options for the future of the market. We have also been talking to traders on a case-by-case basis, whose leases come up for renewal, regarding their options going forward.”
Controversial spending amid financial cuts
The commitment to spend £740,000 on designs for the market comes only weeks after the Labour-run authority agreed to pay £750,000 to investigate the possible creation of a new hotel complex or flats behind City Hall. This is despite the authority needing to make £3.2m in savings this year and planning to hike council tax to balance the books.
