Cambridge Market Redevelopment Plans Raise Trader Concerns Over Space

The Cambridge City Council’s proposed £12.6 million initiative to enhance the vicinity of a local market has prompted apprehension among traders, who are concerned the project will lead to a reduction in the market’s footprint. The council’s proposals include the installation of a canopy over a section of the market, the establishment of 27 permanent stalls, along with resurfacing work and enhancements to existing structures. While some market traders have expressed worries about a “massive shortfall of space,” the council has affirmed that the market’s total area will not be diminished. Further aspects of the plans, according to the authority, involve the provision of an additional 64 “demountable” stalls for use during weekends and peak seasons. Other suggested modifications encompass upgrades to the Guildhall and the Corn Exchange, as well as utilizing the area for various events when the market is not operational. The council noted that it currently lacks the full funding for all proposed works and has initially put forward an investment of £3 million for the market’s resurfacing. During a strategy and resources scrutiny committee meeting, trader Glenys Self articulated that the provision of only 27 permanent stalls constituted a “huge issue” that traders believed would result in a “shrinkage of the market.” Fellow trader Julia Cox further stated there would be a “massive shortfall in terms of space.” Simon Smith, the executive councillor for finance and resources, emphasized that the market’s size would not be reduced under these plans, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The detailed proposals for the area are scheduled to be presented at a full council meeting on Thursday.