Leicester Market Traders Express Discontent Over Proposed Smaller, Food-Centric Scheme

Traders, whose stalls were relocated to facilitate the demolition of Leicester Market, have voiced strong objections to a new proposal for a reduced-size, food-focused market in the city. Earlier this year, work on a planned £7.5 million renovation of the marketplace was halted following initial demolition activities at the site. The council had previously indicated that the space created by the demolition could instead serve as an area for public events. A public consultation has now commenced regarding a plan that aims to both reinstate the market in its original location and establish a new “event space.” However, traders are dissatisfied with the proposed new market, which would feature 48 stalls and give priority to vendors selling “fruit, vegetables and high-quality food from around the world.” Spencer Harris, who has traded at Rachel’s Fruit and Veg for 26 years, stated: “It’s only good news if we can all go there.” He added, “There’s no point one going down there and not the others.” Harris also noted, “It’s still nothing is clear, it’s just a new proposal being made, so it’s going to take more time.” Pav Singh, representing The Smokin’ Shack, commented: “I think it’s disgusting.” Singh elaborated, “What they fail to realise is out of the current traders here there’s 18 fruit and veg traders and 17 dry goods traders, that’s 50% of Leicester Market they just want to scrap.” He continued, “If I was a fruit and veg trader I’d be over the moon, the fact that they are proposing to take the market back to where it was is great – however the promise to return was made to everyone.” Cobbler Nitin Gohil remarked: “A market should be for the community as a whole, to bring people down to town. “As well as the fruit and veg we need some dry goods, services and food outlets, all of which will bring a nice atmosphere and a reason for people to eat and drink and shop in an historic place in Leicester.” Gohil further suggested, “I think the long-term plan is to get rid of everybody. A lot can change in two and a half years.” Announcing the revised plan on Monday, Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Our design team has now come up with a scheme that would allow the market to return to the traders’ favoured site, while keeping the market place as a flexible space for public events – as it was for hundreds of years.” He added, “We’re now inviting the market traders and people in Leicester to comment on this new proposal.” Sir Peter concluded, “Their feedback will help inform the final decision, paving the way for a scheme that I hope will bring new life to Leicester’s market place and help regenerate the wider area.” Sir Peter addressed some of the traders’ concerns, stating that the new space would be “enough to meet the needs of the fruit and veg traders.” He further explained: “What is undoubtedly going to need to have some considerable further discussion is how the so-called dry goods, the other traders, how they’re accommodated in the future,” adding, “And I do intend that we should talk to them and see to what extent they can be accommodated within this scheme or indeed be accommodated in some of the vacant units around and about the market.” Should the proposal receive approval, the new event space could be repaved and finalized by early next year, with the new market building anticipated to open by spring/summer 2027. The public consultation is scheduled to conclude on 9 December.