Petition puts pressure on council over market's future

CAMPAIGNERS have collected 10,000 signatures to persuade Leeds City Council to invest in the future of Leeds Kirkgate Market.

Members of Friends of Leeds Kirkgate Market group, which was formed last year, started the petition calling for lower rents, calling on the council to invest in the market and give traders more share in its management.

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The campaign group says more and more stalls were falling empty and traditional traders are moving out, blaming high rents.

The local authority is carrying out a public consultation as part of its plans to draw up a strategy for the market.

It runs until February 7 and people can log on to www.leedsmarkets.co.uk for details.

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A spokeswoman for the council said yesterday: "The market has gone through a number of changes in the last 12 months, and has answered many, if not all of the calls from traders on issues in the market. Recently the council has decided to freeze rents, even after the results of an independent rent review suggested they should be raised, and at the beginning of this year a new markets manager was appointed to post.

"We are looking to engage with traders over concerns on strategic and policy proposals and allow them to have their say on these matters, especially in terms of the future management and investment in the market."