Traders 'outraged' at plans to replace outdoor stalls at Doncaster market with gazebos

The outdoor market has been in operation for decades but the landscape of the iconic area may be about to change.

Doncaster Council and MAM (Market Assessment Management) have announced proposals to remove the fixed structures and replace them with ‘self-erect’ gazebos to create more room for events.

But opponents fear they will flattened or not used at all in bad weather, leaving an empty space ‘of no purpose’.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “We are consulting with all traders around our future vision for the Doncaster and Mexborough Market estate and part of this involves looking at opening up the outdoor space, to attract new traders who are unwilling to use fixed stalls and offer more scope for external events and activities.

“To do this effectively, we propose to remove the old fashioned fixed market stalls and replace them with more modern and flexible alternatives.

“This will help to improve footfall and sightlines into the Corn Exchange, International Food Hall and the Wool Market."

Tony Jackson, aged 81, has been coming to sell his goods at the market every Wednesday since 1996.

But if the plans go ahead and the stalls are removed he will not be returning.

He said: “MAM is proposing to tear down all these market stalls and replace them with temporary pop-ups.

“They will not be put up in windy weather because of health and safety and they are simply inferior to what we’ve got now.”

“It will become an empty open space that will be of no purpose.”

A document sent to traders and seen by the Free Press outlines the proposals.

It states: “Outdated metal stalls block sight-lines across the square, attract anti-social behaviour and do not promote custom circulation across the square.

"The outdoor market can operate on a self-erect basis with traders operating from gazebos.“

John Williams has been trading on the outdoor market for 21 years.

He said: “Doncaster was a really good market town.

“20 years ago it was heaving but now there is nobody walking around.

“It’s terrible, they’ve killed it.”

Stallholders claim MAM notified them of the proposed changes last week.

In the document, the proposed plan says: “This work could be undertaken as soon as possible, in order to maximise the opportunities presented for a socially distant market square where people can dwell.

"Some outdoor traders will not come back in the wake of coronavirus, so it limits income loss to one hit rather than coming later down the line.”

Martyn Barratt has sold military memorabilia on his stall on the Doncaster outdoor market for 30 years.

He started as a 14-year-old boy and reminisced about the time where traders would line up for a chance to get the best spot on the market.

He said: “The current stalls are not outdated, in fact brand new ones were built five years ago.

“I personally think that this market is not in the way of the Wool Market.

“In fact when one of us is busy so is the other, their trade does not depreciate because of us.”

Martyn has written a poem to describe how he is feeling about the proposed changes named ‘What does the D stand for in Doncaster.’

The poem reads: “D is for the demolition of market stalls that are just five years old.

"D is for disadvantaged market traders.

"D is for democracy, who made this decision, the market traders had no say.

"D is for disaster, the end of the market as we know it.”

Another trader who is not happy about the decision is John Edjson who has been on the outdoor market for 11 years.

He said: “The market has been here from the 1800s, why destroy it?

“If they make the change to gazebos we won’t come.

“The market used to bring prosperity but now it’s empty.”

The spokesperson from the council and MAM said: “We are fully supportive of our existing traders and continue to consult with them on new ways of working, but we must also look to the future and understand what infrastructure will enable the markets to modernise and bring in new businesses and opportunities, as well as enhancing the visitor experience.”

Officials acknowledge some traders will leave if the plan goes ahead.

The document adds: “Inevitably some traders will not continue trading or will be unwilling to use gazebos, so it is anticipated outdoor trader numbers may fall initially.

"This will result in an initial loss of income, but allow us to build the market back up with more modern, vibrant offers.”

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