Kirkgate Market, can it survive?

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sat 16 Apr, 2011 10:17 am

raveydavey wrote: It's also worth considering the scandalous fares that Worst charge to get a bus into town won't be helping either. The thick end of £10 for a family of four to go in and out of town on the bus (off peak) is daylight robbery. The First and Arriva single fares are indeed inexcusably scandalous, but a Metro Family Day Rover at £9.50 is worth considering, especially if you're going anywhere else while in the City and on a train or two. I've recently mapped out a day trip for a friend who's not "public transport literate" and they had a whale of a time. Trains Garforth to Leeds and Leeds to Bradford (for Media Museum), and Bradford to Ilkley, day in Ilkley, trains Ilkley to Leeds and Leeds to Garforth - two adults and three children. I agree though that the fares are very likely to affect Market trade. It saddens me now to go in there and see so many closed shops and lack of trade at the others. It was significant when Woody's closed down fairly abruptly - it always seemed that you could get "anything and everything" there.

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Mon 18 Apr, 2011 8:58 am

The market car park has a deliberately unfavourable charging scheme which is really outrageous.I cant remember exactly what it is, but it is about £3 from 5.30pm to 10pm, then its free untill half 7 in the morning. If you get there at say 5pm, you have to pay for an hour (because you cant pay for anything less) then come back at 5.30pm and then put another £3 in.everyone who parks there just looks at the pay scale bemused and I can't blame them!

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 22 Apr, 2011 9:04 pm

There is an article on the YEP website, where campaigners warn that the Eastgate Quarter development will essentially be the death knell for the Market.http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 13167Metro don't seem best pleased about it either...

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 11 May, 2011 7:20 pm

This article on the BBC website is worrying - not least, what would be done with the 'closed down space'? Is this where the big store names, far removed from the Market Ethos are invited in?http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-13361531

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Wed 11 May, 2011 8:51 pm

chameleon wrote: This article on the BBC website is worrying - not least, what would be done with the 'closed down space'? Is this where the big store names, far removed from the Market Ethos are invited in?http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-13361531 There is a very similar story in this mornings YEP.You'd have to assume that it's the top section of the market that they are looking to save, with the 1970's shed likely to go. So what would happen to the outdoor market? Without an obvious thoroughfare between the two chances are it would wither and die.It was encouraging to read that the market (still the largest market in Europe) returns a profit of over £2 million a year, even as it is. That proves there is a strong demand for it. It makes you wonder what sort of return the council would get if they ran it properly. What they don't want to do is isolate the market still further by removing the last remaining affordable parking adjacent to it, but it seems likely that the developer has well and truly got the councils ear on that subject.

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 11 May, 2011 11:13 pm

'You'd have to assume that it's the top section of the market that they are looking to save, with the 1970's shed likely to go' However the interview on Look North was with the owner of a stall selling fish in 'the affected part of the market. . . .'One has to wonder what influence the Harewood sector is bringing to bear and influencing proceedings here. Whatever, doesn't bode well

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Thu 12 May, 2011 9:01 pm

I think you're right.There is another big article in this mornings YEP (although it doesn't appear to be on the website).Many of the more vocal traders are also saying that the market is now too big, which can never be a good sign.

The Doggers · Post by **The Doggers** » Fri 13 May, 2011 3:50 pm

Could the council not adopt a system wherby the Market must receive a set amount in rent to cover costs/maintenance etc. etc., but this amount is spread across the traders, with each individual trader's rent being reduced everytime a new trader joins the Market?Surely this is the fairest system they could use? Once it reaches a certain level, the rent bottoms out, with a little bit of profit margin left in place for the council?

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 29 Jul, 2011 11:26 am

More on the Market Review reported in our friendly Evening Post this morning:http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... _3627387It is sounding more and more as though the end of the outdoor market is in sight, a suggestion some time ago being to 'bring it under cover'. The newer temporary (declared permanent) sections would presumably be the location in some form, if the overall market size is reduced as suggested.Taking the place into the private sector in any guise raises a whole new set of questions - and concerns, if a 'for profit' organisation becomes involved.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Fri 29 Jul, 2011 1:38 pm

The stalls of the outdoor market are ususally full. The indoor market a few feet away has spaces. Could it be the rents?