Historic market may be reduced and moved from council control

The future of the market, how it should be managed and how it can attract new customers will be considered this week by senior councillors in the city.

Options include looking into what might be the optimum size for both the indoor and outdoor markets and how they are managed, with the aim of being able to rent out all stalls to obtain a 100 per cent letting success rate.

Many people see the market as an intrinsic part of the city centre and around 10,000 people signed a recent petition calling for more investment in the market as well as rent reductions and a bigger say for market traders in the way it is run.

A report to the authority’s executive board tomorrow warns: “Kirkgate market is facing many challenges and pressures.

“The council has to consider the future of the market within the context of the recession, the changing UK retail sector and public spending cuts.

“The retail landscape has significantly changed in the last 10 years with the loss of household names and the emergence of new, often international, retailers. In addition the sale of non-food goods by supermarkets has soared and is likely to increase further.

“It is inevitable, therefore, that more marginal independent traders and retailers are not able to survive in the current economic climate – indeed some were struggling during the retail boom.”

Council chiefs say initial estimates found that £1.8m needs spending on the market, on matters such as refurbishing roofs, but the bill is likely to be higher.

The report recommends looking at moving the ownership of Kirkgate Market to an arm’s length company and determining the markets’ best size. If councillors agree more work will be done to look at the issues in more detail.

“Kirkgate Market is at a critical point and the decisions the council takes over the next twelve months will be crucial in securing its future not only for our generation but for generations to come,” the report says.

The focus is to build the market’s reputation for food and attract a wider audience, including students and city dwellers.

Public discussions have resulted in suggested improvements such as opening on Sundays, opening in the evening so people can shop on their way home from work and increasing the quality and range of products on offer. They also suggested better car parking – the report says the Eastgate development will offer 1,618 spaces.

Fears for the site’s long-term future have been raised following the green light for the £600m Eastgate shopping development, near the market.

Traders have voiced concerns that changes to bus routes as part of the Eastgate development could leave the Kirkgate site isolated.

But last night the authority stressed its commitment to ensuring the long-term future of the market.

Leeds City Council executive board member with responsibility for development, Richard Lewis, said: “I believe with work beginning on the Eastgate and Trinity quarters, this provides a real window of opportunity for us to drive the market to the next level and offer a retail and shopping experience that can compete with the very best.

“This report outlines a number of options which can help us achieve this goal, which will of course need to be considered in the context of a number of significant challenges such as the recession, the changing UK retail sector and public spending.

“While there has been a 14 per cent reduction nationally in traditional market traders and a number of temporary buildings do need extensive maintenance, I do believe it is important that we do not forget what is already on offer at the market and the platform that it now has the chance to build on.”

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