Campaigners fighting for better deal for Leeds Kirkgate Market have welcomed a council decision to hold an independent inquiry into the future of the facility.
The Friends of Kirkgate Market group said the launch of an inquiry by a Leeds Council watchdog scrutiny board was a positive step.
The market has been the subject of a long-running campaign by struggling traders and the Friends group over concerns about what they claim is the neglect of the facility by the council.
They are campaigning for lower rents for traders, better promotion, the appointment of a dedicated market manager and a greater say in the running of the facilities.
At this week's city development scrutiny board meeting councillors decided to 'call in' Kirkgate Market and launch an independent inquiry into issues surrounding the facility.
The scrutiny board had previously postponed its decision whether to hold an inquiry as members awaited the publication of a draft strategy into the future of the facilities. Councillors were told this week that the strategy they were due to discuss had been delayed.
Inquiry is welcomed
Sara Gonzales, of the Friends of Kirkgate Market, said:
"We welcome this inquiry, we hope it will open up the council's market strategy for consultation with the traders and the public."The councillors at the scrutiny board were clearly frustrated at the lack of movement on the strategy.
"It's soon going to be a year since the market had a dedicated manager so time is of the essence. We need action."
Gonzales said the Friends group had emailed each scrutiny board member with questions over what she claimed was the lack of consulation with traders over the draft strategy.
Completion of the rent review
After the meeting, a Leeds council spokesperson said:
"We appreciate the concerns from traders about the market, and are working to develop a comprehensive draft strategy for the market.
"We are still awaiting completion of the rent review which is crucial to the future strategy of the market, and it would simply make no sense to publish the strategy without all the required information from this review and the condition survey.
"Once the draft strategy is completed we will be consulting on it widely."
A post over at the Friends of Leeds Kirkgate Market blog gives the group's version of events.
Traders voiced their concerns over the future of the market when they brought a deputation to full council back in April.
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