The plight of traditional northern markets continues to make the headlines.
The Northerner has recently focussed on the difficulties facing markets in Mexborough, Wakefield and Leeds - and now traders in Hulme, Manchester, have vowed to fight for their businesses after learning more than half the stalls at their market face closure.
The Manchester Evening News reports that stallholders at Hulme Market were told most of the market hall will be turned into a large discount store – with some given just a week to vacate.
More than 20 small businesses currently trade at the market, but the new development will leave room for just eight.
Kirkgate Market 'won't be ignored'
As I reported last week, the revised £600 million Eastgate Quarters development - which aims to transform the run-down north-eastern quarter of Leeds centre into a sea of shops and restaurants - was granted outline planning approval by city councillors.
The new development is partly based next to Leeds Kirkgate Market, which has recently faced a number of struggles surrounding its future. Local group The Friends of Leeds Kirkgate Market recently expressed concern over the impact of Eastgate and its 'ruinous and unfair' competition and objected to the development.
Although the council approved the plans, the Friends are taking solice in the fact that their objections have, at least, been heard at the Civic Hall. In a post on the Friends' blog, they report that the market 'won't be ignored' at the detailed design stage of the Eastgate project.
Leeds Kirkgate Market is the largest indoor market in Europe.
