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City's market traders return after relocation row

Ollie SamuelsNorth West, Preston
News imageBBC An outdoor market with a large canopy overhead. There are two orange traffic cones in the foreground, and dozens of tables stretching towards the back of the market. Traders are setting up their stalls.BBC
Preston outdoor market, underneath the Grade II-listed canopy

Market traders have returned to their pitches at Preston outdoor market for the first time in three months following building works nearby.

Ian Butler told BBC Radio Lancashire the enforced relocation on 21 October had been "awful" for the stall he runs with his sister, and claimed they had lost up to £3,000.

Despite the area being deemed unsafe for traders, the council approved an ice skating rink that ran between 22 November and 4 January.

Preston City Council deputy leader Martyn Rawlinson said that had been "incidental" and stressed that while it had not been safe for traders to operate while the construction site was being created, "now the barriers are up, I believe it's manageable".

News imageA man wearing a flat cap and red tartan overcoat stands in front of a building site.
Trade Ian Butler believes October was a bad time of year to move

Traders moved after the council received funding to revitalise Amounderness House across the road from the market.

Rawlinson said the council "could not miss the opportunity to renovate" a building that had been empty for 30 years.

But weeks after the traders were moved, the council approved an ice-skating rink on the site of the outdoor market.

Rawlinson insisted traders were moved for safety concerns and "weren't moved for the ice rink".

News imageA man stands smiling in front of market stalls. He has black rimmed glasses, a green coat and a white shirt with a lanyard.
Martyn Rawlinson, deputy leader of Preston City Council

Butler said: "To put it bluntly awful, it was a bad time of year to be moved due to the weather conditions."

He said the lack of protection against the wind and rain at the old fish market meant stock was getting wet and ruined.

His sister Kathryn added: "We probably are 70% down in the usual takings."

Gordon Hewitt, who runs a neighbouring stall, said: "It's absolutely fantastic being back, and we should never have been moved in the first place."

Derek Walsh, who ran a book stall for 48 years, quit his pitch in September, calling the relocation the "last straw".

Rawlinson said "there's going to be some teething problems" moving the stalls back, but the council was determined to make it work.

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