Traders and Doncaster Wool Market bosses clash over venue's Covid-19 clean-up

Earlier this week, bosses at the £7 million indoor market said the market had been treated after a trader tested positive for coronavirus.

However, an anonymous group of traders contacted the Free Press to say the market has not been closed for cleaning and that the incident is being ‘covered up.’

Market Asset Management, which runs the Wool Market has denied the allegations and says the traders response ‘does not match any facts.’

On Thursday, MAM and Doncaster Council, said that it had ‘undertaken the necessary precautions’ following the confirmation of a coronavirus case in the building.

"We have undertaken the necessary precautions and additional deep cleaning, and Doncaster’s Environmental Health team have confirmed they are satisfied with our response.”

However, traders have contested MAM’s version of events and in an anonymous statement, wrote: “The market has not been closed for a deep clean and has been open as usual every day except Mondays and there have been people in here on the Mondays doing work on the new food unit that's due to open shortly.

"MAM have not notified anybody in the Wool Market of confirmed cases or anything and we as a market feel that they are trying to cover this up.

"The only confirmation we have had is via a group chat with the two people who have tested positive and they have told us all in the interests of all our health.

"The two people have on numerous occasions emailed MAM’s team and still nothing has been mentioned.

"We are afraid to say anything to MAM as they feel their livelihoods will be threatened by termination or ending of rent contracts.”

A spokesman for MAM said: "This anonymous timeline does not match any facts that we are aware of and our response to any COVID-related situation has been approved by the Council’s Enforcement Team who are fully aware of the steps taken and are happy with our response.

"Our site team are going above and beyond to ensure Doncaster Market is a safe environment to visit."

MAM has not confirmed which stallholder has tested positive.

The Wool Market re-opened last year after a £7 million revamp.