A campaign against the £16.5 million re-development of Huddersfield Open Market has been backed by more than 1,000 people.
Campaigners have collected over 1,000 signatures on a letter objecting to Kirklees Council’s planning application for the grade II*-listed building.
Campaigners say the market is already a popular attraction, pulling in visitors from near and far.
Over 140 traders have also opposed the scheme, claiming a temporary relocation outside could kill the market. One said: “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”
Campaigners say 25% of visitors come from outside the district from towns and cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Barnsley and Burnley but as far afield as Glasgow, London, Middlesbrough and Wales. A visiting family from Denmark even signed the letter.
Campaigners say the Saturday secondhand market, in particular, is a big draw because there’s nothing like it across the North of England.
The council’s plan for the market hall is to make it more of a destination for events with more food and drink stalls.
There will be 70 moveable stalls inside while outside a Market Yard will be created with 41 trader pitches and a public space. The aim is to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs to give their business idea a go.
Andrew Wilson, director of West Yorkshire think tank Same Skies, who drafted the letter and is helping to co-ordinate the campaign, shops at the market every week.
He said he was surprised the council’s planning application didn’t appear to recognise the economic value of the market as a tourist attraction and its contribution to the distinctiveness of Kirklees.
He added: “Kirklees Council has already spent four years and substantial staff time on devising a tourism strategy but its planning application for the open market is taking a risk with the future of perhaps the most successful attraction in the town centre.
“I will be writing to David Shepherd, executive director of place at Kirklees Council, to ask how the open market in its current configuration was evaluated on the grounds of preserving the distinctiveness of Kirklees and supporting a growing and resilient local economy.”
Andrew said the current market’s food and drink offer was already pretty tasty and varied.
“There is hot food from Thailand and Hungary and traditional English cafes, and all of it is delicious,” he said.
“I would also recommend the fruit and veg, bakery and curry takeaway stalls to any visitor to Huddersfield.
“We should be shouting about how good the food and drink is at Huddersfield Open Market as part of the overall experience, not talking it down.”
One trader with experience of markets across the North of England went as far as claiming the secondhand and collectibles market was as good as anything outside the famous markets in London.
“Once someone visits the Huddersfield market they always come back again,” said the trader.
Funding for the scheme is coming from the Government.
Images by: Kristina Gurova
Inside the George Hotel reveals ‘scale of challenge’ with countdown on to start of work
