Campaigners fighting to save Huddersfield’s open market have sent a positive New Year message to Kirklees Council bosses.

They say that the future of the market can be resolved within six weeks, leading to a planning application that has the full support of traders, visitors and event organisers – but only if the council changes its approach and works with them.

So far more than 1,000 people have signed a letter supporting the constructive way forward that campaigners have proposed.

Kirklees Council have been aware of the proposals since October 17 but have not responded, say campaigners.

The council has submitted a planning application for a £16.5 million Government-funded scheme to modernise the grade II*-listed market hall and create a Market Yard outside with a public space.

The council wants the market to be more of a destination for food, drink and events.

If the plans go ahead the council wants to erect a building opposite the market hall in Brook Street as a temporary home for the market. The market hall could be closed for around 18 months.

Instead of the council’s plans, the campaigners have proposed a co-design process that they say properly values the expertise and experience of traders, market visitors, event organisers, architects and planners.

Andrew Wilson, director of West Yorkshire think tank Same Skies, who is co-ordinating the campaign, said he felt there were two problems with the council’s design process.

The first was that there was no recognition of the strength of the current market, especially the Saturday collectables and secondhand market.

“The Saturday market is the crown jewels of Huddersfield town centre,” he said. “It is something that Huddersfield has got that nowhere else has, bringing in visitors and spending from all over the north of England and beyond.

“If your design is going to wipe out your most successful and unique tourist attraction, then that is bad design. Luckily the planning process is in place to stop bad design happening.”

Huddersfield Secondhand Market. Image by Kristina Gurova

The second issue, according to Mr Wilson, is that the design process didn’t draw on the expertise of the people who understand markets and what makes them successful.

“The experts about markets are the people who make a living in them and buy from them,” said Mr Wilson. “Any good design process would be based on making the most of that knowledge.”

Mr Wilson made clear that such a process was different from a consultation.

“In my opinion a consultation is what happens when an institution has already decided what it is going to do and it needs to tick a box.”

The case of the open market proved his point, he said.

“The council claimed 100% of traders supported their plans but within 10 days of that claim, almost every trader had signed a letter objecting to the plans and calling for a constructive way forward. Clearly the so-called consultation failed to uncover the truth.”

The preparatory work done by the architects will not be wasted, Mr Wilson added, because it has allowed a London-based firm to familiarise themselves with the physical aspects and social context of Huddersfield’s unique open market.

“I can’t see any reason why the future of the market can’t be resolved in six weeks,” said Mr Wilson. “It’s only the failed design process that is getting in the way.”

Lorraine Howell, who has been trading on the Saturday collectables and secondhand market for more than 10 years, said there was complete agreement among traders about rejuvenating the market.

“Everyone who loves the market knows the building needs some TLC,” said Lorraine. “I could show the council everything that needs some investment in 10 minutes.”

She added: “The council plan is for a food and drink market and events space but that is exactly the same as they are building in the old Queensgate Market, which is five minutes’ walk away.”

Ms Howell also pointed out that with the opening of the new Lidl store there are no fewer than five national supermarket chains within 10 minutes’ walk of the proposed food and drink market.

“Is the market really going to survive by selling food and drink when it is surrounded by supermarkets?” she asked.

“The council talks as though its designs for the new market are bound to be a success but clearly there is good reason to doubt that.”

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