Leeds nostalgia: September 1985: Day market traders marched to save Kirkgate Market

Leeds, 26th September 1985

Leeds Market Traders Protest.

Posters and leaflets are to be banned by law from Leeds Market under proposed new by-laws.

And angry traders say the move is aimed at hindering their long running campaign against council plans to redevelop the historic market site. — Leeds, 26th September 1985 Leeds Market Traders Protest. Posters and leaflets are to be banned by law from Leeds Market under proposed new by-laws. And angry traders say the move is aimed at hindering their long running campaign against council plans to redevelop the historic market site.

They marched through the streets of Leeds, from the market all the way to Civic Hall to make their point over the proposed £60m development plan.

They are angry at an all-party backing for a scheme submitted by Dutch developers MAB, which would have seen the market absorbed into a new shopping and leisure complex.

Eddie Cornell, chair of the traders’ association, said they had 75,000 signatures on a petition calling for the plans to be abandoned.

The campaign was backed by singer Ronnie Hilton and former and Mgr Michael Buckley, priest of nearby St Peter’s from 1950-1966.

The protest march took place on September 26, 1985.

Pictured on the march,(at front from left) were: Mrs Joan Hilton, Ronnie Hilton, Mgr Michael Buckley, Harry Higgins, chairman of Leeds Outdoor Stallholders Group, and Eddie Cornell, chairman of Leeds Market Tenants and traders Association, together with other angry stallholders and members of the public.