Dozens of Doncaster market stalls forced to close - but they may still have to pay rent

The retail units in the Corn Exchange, Outdoor Market and Wool Market are closing for the time being, while food traders will be remaining open to sell fruit and vegetables, meat and fish.

A spokesman for the Market Asset Management said: “It’s been a tough decision but the health and well being of customers, staff and stallholders has to come first.

“It’s a sad day for the market, but we will get through this and are looking forward to returning to serve you as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Extra precautions have been put in place at the market to make sure people practice social distancing, including barriers being put up to keep shoppers at a distance.

Ryan Davis, director of KD Davies greengrocers, said they were closing their stall this evening to concentrate on their delivery business.

He said: “We’ve made the decision because we’ve made 1,000 deliveries this week already. We are renting some extra space on an industrial estate, and expected it to be going up to 2,000 next week.”

Most food stalls were were continuing to trade though. Marshall’s butchers are also starting a delivery service.

Some of the non-food stalls closed today were concerned about their situations.

One trader on the wool market who asked not to be named told the Free Press they had been told they would still have to pay rent while the market was closed, because a grant made to traders ‘was to cover rent’.

She said she may be left with stock that she could not sell as a result of the closure.

“We’re all very worried,” she said.

Octavian Vasilescu, who runs The Hempman stall at Goose Hill market, said he had not been told directly he had to close but picked it up off the market’s social media. He is hoping to trade by mail order from Facebook.

He said it was unclear whether traders would still have to pay rent while the stalls were closed.

Doncaster Council has been approached for comment.