Liverpool Council searching for someone to turn around city's troubled markets

Liverpool Council are searching for someone to help turn around the financial position of the city’s troubled markets.

The varied markets that run across Liverpool have long been a feature of life in the city but the financial position of some of them is increasingly strained.

The Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to long periods of closure, has exacerbated the effects of a long term national trend of consumers moving away from markets.

There have also been a range of other issues. For example, in the case of St John’s Market in Liverpool city centre, traders were left in uproar after a botched revamp saw footfall through the market plummet.

Stall holders there were left furious when the council announced plans earlier this year to end rent relief given to the traders after that renovation.

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Now, an advert on a public sector contracting site said the council is looking “an experienced creative and forward-looking consultant” to develop a long term plan for all the city’s markets.

The advert said: “Liverpool markets have a glorious history and as such have acquired a folklore in the City that harks back to a golden and different age. Over the last twenty years shopping habits have changed, and this coupled with the devastating impact of Covid on retail and its potential long-term ramifications, means it is timely to look at a new model and future for our markets.

“Liverpool’s current market offer is eclectic, from farmers markets to Great Homer Street (Greatie), from occasional event style destination markets to St Johns. The offer needs consolidating to create a compelling and practical vision that is worthy of a Global City and is more than the sum of its parts.”

A separate section of the advert goes on to say that the consultant will have to look at the operations of St. Johns Market, Garston, Great Homer Street, Liverpool Food Hub, Monument Place, Tuebrook Car Boot and the Retail Market.

It said consultants should be prepared to develop an action plan to secure the overall future of the markets division and come up with a “workable, practical and achievable plan for sites that may no longer be viable that fits the overall model”.

The consultant would be expected to develop a public consultation and work with a citizens’ panel to work their views into the overall plan.