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Fight to save Leeds market gathers civic support
A new pressure group launched to fight for the future of Leeds's famous Kirkgate Market has won the support of leading conservationists.
Stallholders and customers packed into Holy Trinity Church on Boar Lane to officially launch Friends of Kirkgate Market amid fears for its long-term future.
And they were given a boost when Leeds Civic Trust director Kevin Grady told the launch meeting the trust was keen to back the campaign.
He said: "It is such an important institution in the community which has been going for almost 200 years.
"The market is very much the lifeblood of the city, and today it is very important as a tourist attraction and amenity.
"It is a wonderful place and it must have a future."
The YEP last week reported concerns that the market – struggling against the recession – could close within five years, while Coun Coun Mark Dobson (Lab, Garforth and Swillington) claimed it was in crisis.
Carl McCarron, from the friends group, said: "Leeds would be a much poorer place without the market.
"We need to do something and now is the time to do it. Now it is the actual moment we have got to make a stand."
The meeting heard from speakers from a similar group called The Friends of Queens Market, in London, who told of their battle to keep developers from knocking down their market to transform it into tower blocks.
Liz Laughton, a stallholder and a member of the Market Trader's Association, said: "Throw us a lifeline. The lifeline then provides the public with what the market should be there for and that's cheap goods."
The Friends of Kirkgate Market are calling for:
Reduced rents or a fair rent policy;
The establishment of market panel of traders and customers to meet regularly with the council to provide feedback and ideas;
Greater transparency over the market's finances;
The appointment of a market manager.
The campaign group will hold its next meeting on May 4 at The Victoria Pub, Great George Street, at 5.30pm.
Coun Andrew Council Carter, council leader, told the YEP: "We welcome constructive discussions about how we can together forge a successful future for the market, which is a key part of the city's shopping offer."
He said the council was spending 250,000 on a business support scheme to help market traders and other small retailers in council premises, while a further 250,000 was to be spent on improvements at Kirkgate Market.
He added that a new markets manager would be appointed following the completion of staffing restructuring that was currently being carried out.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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