Nottingham Market Traders Begin Departures Amidst Mounting Pressure

Vivian David expressed, “I feel very depressed because I don’t know what to do,” while preparing to vacate Nottingham’s Victoria Market. She is among three traders instructed to surrender the keys to their top-floor shops in the shopping centre on Thursday, with other traders scheduled for eviction later in March. Nottingham City Council initially declared its plan to close the market in 2022, subsequently stating it had ended legal agreements with traders due to breaches of clauses and “significant rent arrears”. However, Ms David, 53, stated that the “pressure is going up and up” because she is uncertain about the future of her business. She added, “I’m worried because I invested a lot of money [in my business],” and “It’s affecting my mental health.” Upon the initial announcement of the market’s closure, the Labour-led authority indicated it had been compelled to subsidize the market for almost ten years, following an increase in service charges by the centre’s former owners, intu. The council confirmed that all traders who violated their legal agreements by not paying rent have now received formal notification to vacate. Ms David, proprietor of the Vivi Collection clothing store, reported that her lawyer reached out to the council in August and September seeking an update on the circumstances. She stated that she only received an email from the council’s solicitor on Thursday, which instructed her to “should return all the keys” on that very day. The email, reviewed by the Local Democracy reporting Service (LDRS), stipulates that she must remove her stock within a reasonable timeframe, and this must be arranged by appointment. She commented, “I was waiting for them to respond to my request to see what I could do.” She continued, “The worst thing is they keep on sending you letters, they tell you if you don’t pay your rent, and that we [the council] will take you to court.“ She added, “But they are not fulfilling what they promised to do. I wouldn’t be in debt if they told me I had to pack my things and they would give me compensation. I should have gone by now.” Ms David explained that she stayed at the market because the council had promised her “adequate compensation” as part of its earlier plans to negotiate an early departure from the market. The authority holds approximately 50 years remaining on its market lease. Nevertheless, discussions with Global Mutual, the centre manager that succeeded intu following its collapse, failed in June last year. Only a few months later, in December, subsequent to the council declaring effective bankruptcy, traders were notified that the council had opted to terminate the lease by summer or autumn 2024. This closure date did not materialize as planned. Ms David stated that she has since accumulated rent arrears, attributing this to low footfall caused by the council’s ineffective communication and the ambiguity surrounding the proposed closure. Carol Lilley, another trader, mentioned that she has “put my heart and soul in this market” for 39 years while operating her underwear shop. She informed the BBC, “And this is what they have done to me.” The 66-year-old indicated that despite having until March to vacate the market, she “can’t afford to stay.” She further stated, “I claimed my private pension to keep me going.” A Nottingham City Council spokesperson confirmed that a meeting took place in September with traders to finalize plans for the market’s closure. The spokesperson added, “Unfortunately, several stallholders have breached their legal agreements by failing to pay rent, collectively owing the council over £400,000.” They continued, “Any trader with significant unpaid rent has been or will be formally notified to vacate the market.“ The spokesperson emphasized, “With the council facing substantial financial challenges, it’s crucial that we address these outstanding rent issues.” They also stated, “Additionally, we will be terminating legal agreements with traders who have applicable break clauses to cease their occupancy at the market.”