‘Favourite’ market sets out stall for new look

Doncaster Market was recently voted the UK’s favourite in a nationwide poll, but while its market hall and nearby wool market are said to be trading well, the outdoor stalls are struggling.

Estimates suggest that at the current rate of decline the number of empty stalls will increase dramatically, with just 50 of the 138 outdoor stalls occupied by traders in three years’ time.

Yesterday, Doncaster Council’s ruling cabinet approved plans to divert £1.37m of Government grants from a scheme to provide small business space and spend it on breathing life back into the open market.

In a report to the cabinet, Peter Dale, the council’s director of regeneration, said: “Doncaster was recently voted Britain’s favourite market and provides a diverse base of business and affordable produce.

“However, the outdoor market area is under used with a poor layout and with a large amount of vacant stalls. The footfall is not as strong as in other areas of the market and trade is not as good.

“The stalls are functionally obsolete and take up of them has been reducing year on year. Following current trends there may be only 50 of them occupied in three years time without urgent action.”

Under the blueprints drawn up by market bosses, the existing 138 stalls will be permanently removed and replaced with 100 new fixed stalls plus provision for an extra 50 “demountable” stalls.

It is anticipated the revamp will attract 22 new businesses employing 33 people, with the “reconfiguration” also making the Wool Market’s 135 stalls more accessible, boosting trade and jobs further.

Mr Dale added: “The aim of the proposal is to increase footfall accessing the market by 10 per cent and footfall into the ‘hidden’ Wool Market by 15 per cent. This will increase trading opportunities for the market businesses but it is anticipated that the wider town centre businesses, particularly those located close to the markets will also benefit. In addition to the estimated creation of new jobs the improvements will help to sustain existing jobs, estimated at approximately 1,000, across the whole market.”

At present the market is open four days a week but it is hoped to extend that to six days under the new plans, which would also include regular specialist markets and occasional visiting markets.

The £1.37m was originally given to Doncaster Council to help small businesses by the Government’s LEGI (Local Government Enterprise Initiative), which ended in March 2011.

Officers said they believed the markets project would deliver better benefits for the town’s entrepreneurs than the previous project, which gave cash to landlords to convert empty properties into business start-up units.

Speaking after yesterday’s meeting, Mayor Peter Davies said: “I am 100 per cent committed to this project. The market has been going from strength to strength and I simply want that to continue. When I was elected I was of the view that previous administrations weren’t much interested, but what we have is a unique draw to people from all over the region. I also believe that this improvement of the few areas of the market that don’t look good at the moment could be a real catalyst for the town centre as a whole. At present the stalls are in a dreadful condition. If we can replace them it will complete the circle of success already achieved.”

The scheme now requires the approval of all members of Doncaster Council who are expected give it the go-ahead very soon.

Confirmation of the Doncaster improvements comes after plans were unveiled for a £2.5m refurbishment of Saturday Market, the largely pedestrianised area in the centre of Beverley, which has received a mixed reception from traders and residents.

The Yorkshire Post revealed yesterday the plans, drawn up by East Riding Council, had been criticised after it emerged cash for the scheme was diverted from a highways maintenance budget.