Market Trader Says Loss of Stalls Will Affect City

AS a trader on the Saturday Craft and Collectables Market I am appalled at the council's decision, without consultation, not to supply market stalls any longer and along with other traders have been campaigning for the council to change its mind. We have had enormous public response in our favour, through the media, and also from the thousands of people who have signed our petition.

The council wants us to purchase our own stalls/gazebos and have said, and I quote,

"we are providing advice and assistance to the market traders on the type of stalls available to purchase to ensure that the 'look' of the market is not compromised.

The only assistance we have had to date from the council has been a few photocopied leaflets and a very flimsy garden type Gazebo erected to demonstrate what we can buy for �95, one puff of wind and it would take off like a kite. Will the council also be supplying us with tethering points? There was no one to talk to or ask questions, where was the council and their help?

We have not been given any indication whatsoever about the type of stall/gazebo they would like to see, or what colour scheme, if any, they want.

We have a very attractive market at the moment, with all the same type of stall and covers, I can see the Saturday Craft and Collectables Market resembling something like a fairground or a car boot sale.

The cost to the traders of purchasing a stall that will look the part and also be sturdy enough to withstand the Fenland wind, will put off most traders and will destroy the market as we know it. We have public opinion on our side and I urge the council to rethink this crazy proposal.

This is going to have an enormous detrimental effect on the city of Ely, not only for us the Market Traders but also the shops and coffee house too. People will go elsewhere.

MICK STIMSON

Soham