Market traders in Dorchester shocked by proposed plan to stop them selling (From Dorset Echo)
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Market traders in Dorchester shocked by proposed plan to stop them selling
1:00pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News By Harry Hogger
FORCED OUT: Market traders in South Street, Dorchester who are concerned at the potential closure by the council HG10069
MARKET traders in Dorchester’s main shopping street say plans to stop them trading have come as a ‘bombshell’.
A proposal has been put forward that will see traders at Cornhill Market cease trading from 2014 in a bid to improve the street scene of South Street.
Stallholders have been left outraged by the proposals and have also received support from local businesses.
West Dorset District Council’s Dorchester Markets informal joint panel is to consider proposals to close the market in 2014 when it holds a closed meeting tomorrow as it is claimed it ‘does not add to the street-scene of South Street or the shopping experience of visitors’.
Rowena and Jennifer Evans from Country Arts Picture Framers are regular stallholders at Cornhill Market.
In a joint email to the council they said: “As you can imagine, this has been a bombshell to all of us.
“There are many among the traders who have spent years building up their businesses and customer bases from this location.
“The proposal to disband the existing traders and not issue them with licenses after 2014 with no explanation as to the reasons behind this drastic action is unfair.”
Rowena and Jennifer said they would be willing to work with the council to reach a satisfactory solution if the authority was willing to engage with them.
Paetra Withnall runs her Paetra’s Accessories stall at the market most days selling jewellery, scarves and bags.
She said: “A number of stalls have been there for years.
“We have survived there and that is why we are still standing – because people want us to be there.”
Mrs Withnall also challenged the notion that the market detracted from the overall street scene in South Street, claiming it added vibrancy and was not only popular with shoppers but also shops themselves.
She said: “We have got stunning stalls out there and we have a good rapport with the shops.”
Mark Kaufman, who owns Top Drawer card and gift shop in South Street, said he would hate to see the market forced to close.
He said: “I think it’s ridiculous that they are going to be taken away.”
Mr Kaufman said that if the council was keen to enhance the street scene it could give the traders permanent cabins like those used at the Christmas markets in Bournemouth and Southampton.
The market traders have compiled statements outlining their objections to the proposed closure and sent them to West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin.
WDDC Will Consider Any Proposals
A SPOKESMAN said West Dorset District Council said the Dorchester Markets Informal Joint Panel will consider any proposals at their meeting on Wednesday and will then make recommendations to the district and town council. The spokesman added: “Any decision will be made by members of the executive committee of West Dorset District Council and the policy committee of Dorchester Town Council.”
Comments(42)
lostnfound
says...
2:39pm Tue 16 Oct 12
It sounds as if certain individuals in the council wish to impose their private opinions again in the guise of enhancing the street scene, like the imposition of the so-called traffic calming on Dorchester Road and Preston Road in Weymouth where no residents were complaining about traffic.
I thought, perhaps wrongly, that they were working for benefit of the tax payers, not dreaming up schemes to justify their existence.
dan'not'there
says...
3:05pm Tue 16 Oct 12
I vote we keep the stalls - they provide a local service and add to the CORNHILL athmosphere.
alan_h
says...
4:49pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Futhermore, will WDDC ever do anything to get rid of the infernal A-boards that are strewn about the town?
Using gobbledegook like "does not add to the street-scene of South Street or the shopping experience of visitors" is no substitute for putting forward a rational argument to support these proposals. Then again, can anyone think of a rational argument?
Dorset Boy
says...
6:03pm Tue 16 Oct 12
alan_h wrote:Yet another step towards the death knell for South St. Alan H has hit the nail on the head with his first comments about the foreign street markets who have NO idea whatsoever about food hygiene. I have in the past complained about the lack of covers on food stuffs, only to be told by WDDC that there is no problem.
There have been market stalls in Cornhill since long before WDDC existed and I would rather see the end of WDDC than the loss of those stalls. They cause no obstruction, unlike those wretched French / Italian / Moroccan (etc.) street markets that block South Street, stop deliveries to local shops and impede customer access to those shops.
Futhermore, will WDDC ever do anything to get rid of the infernal A-boards that are strewn about the town?
Using gobbledegook like "does not add to the street-scene of South Street or the shopping experience of visitors" is no substitute for putting forward a rational argument to support these proposals. Then again, can anyone think of a rational argument?
CoogarUK.com
says...
11:20pm Tue 16 Oct 12
So, yet another closed council meeting then? It is surely time for some kind of proper protest to ensure WDDC gets the message that they are elected to serve US and not THEM.
DickDastardly
says...
11:12am Wed 17 Oct 12
JamesYoung
says...
11:47am Wed 17 Oct 12
gestco
says...
1:25pm Wed 17 Oct 12
may be if the shop rates were not so high they would be able to trade in a shop
misshls
says...
2:07pm Wed 17 Oct 12
Swerving
says...
3:13pm Wed 17 Oct 12
You are failing Echo.
But thern he is a councillor of some description, why don't you stand up and say your piece Alistair?
portland rebel
says...
4:20pm Wed 17 Oct 12
baggins11
says...
4:55pm Wed 17 Oct 12
Does anyone actually buy from them?
Get rid of them I say.
marabout
says...
5:28pm Wed 17 Oct 12
DickDastardly wrote:Celebrity ??????
Good to see Diarmuid Gavin providing Celebrity support at the back there.
JamesYoung
says...
8:18pm Wed 17 Oct 12
Swerving wrote:Alistair is a town councillor and it is WDDC who are pushing this. I very much doubt Alistair would support any scheme that results in unemployment or traditions in the town.
Good Grief.... an article about Dorchester without the Town Crier in it!! You are failing Echo. But thern he is a councillor of some description, why don't you stand up and say your piece Alistair?
Get a grip
says...
8:23pm Wed 17 Oct 12
JamesYoung wrote:James Young
Swerving wrote: Good Grief.... an article about Dorchester without the Town Crier in it!! You are failing Echo. But thern he is a councillor of some description, why don't you stand up and say your piece Alistair?Alistair is a town councillor and it is WDDC who are pushing this. I very much doubt Alistair would support any scheme that results in unemployment or traditions in the town.
He is a district councillor.
gem_squash
says...
10:19pm Wed 17 Oct 12
Get a grip wrote:Instead of being short sighted and contrived, why can't WDDC invest something back into the community. Instead of threatening the traders with closure why can't they invest some time and money to help "add to the street scene".
JamesYoung wrote:James Young
Swerving wrote: Good Grief.... an article about Dorchester without the Town Crier in it!! You are failing Echo. But thern he is a councillor of some description, why don't you stand up and say your piece Alistair?Alistair is a town councillor and it is WDDC who are pushing this. I very much doubt Alistair would support any scheme that results in unemployment or traditions in the town.
He is a district councillor.
Take a look at this link:
http://www.francisfr
ith.com/dorchester/m
emories/when-we-were
-young_82741/
The market has been an intrinsic part of Dorchester long before any member of WDDC could form an intelligent sentence.
Hippy Steve
says...
7:35am Thu 18 Oct 12
JamesYoung wrote:Alistair is a WDDC councillor for the Charminster and Cerne Valley ward.
Swerving wrote:Alistair is a town councillor and it is WDDC who are pushing this. I very much doubt Alistair would support any scheme that results in unemployment or traditions in the town.
Good Grief.... an article about Dorchester without the Town Crier in it!! You are failing Echo. But thern he is a councillor of some description, why don't you stand up and say your piece Alistair?
http://www.dorsetfor
you.com/councillorch
isholm/west
He is also a member of the group which met in secret to agree proposals to close stalls without any public consultation whatsoever.
I leave you to your own conclusions...
Hippy Steve
says...
7:44am Thu 18 Oct 12
JamesYoung
says...
7:45am Thu 18 Oct 12
Hippy Steve wrote:I stand corrected.
JamesYoung wrote:Alistair is a WDDC councillor for the Charminster and Cerne Valley ward. http://www.dorsetfor you.com/councillorch isholm/west He is also a member of the group which met in secret to agree proposals to close stalls without any public consultation whatsoever. I leave you to your own conclusions...Swerving wrote: Good Grief.... an article about Dorchester without the Town Crier in it!! You are failing Echo. But thern he is a councillor of some description, why don't you stand up and say your piece Alistair?Alistair is a town councillor and it is WDDC who are pushing this. I very much doubt Alistair would support any scheme that results in unemployment or traditions in the town.
Hippy Steve
says...
7:55am Thu 18 Oct 12
baggins11 wrote:With such a clear ability to comment only on the few stalls which you personally consider to be unworthy instead of looking at the the overall popularity of the long-standing stalls (vegetables, jewellery, wool, hardware, etc, etc) and seeing the numbers of people who would rather support local enterprise than chain stores I suggest that you stand for election to WDDC.
Flowers, burgers and furniture from the tip? Win a Mini? Sky TV?
Does anyone actually buy from them?
Get rid of them I say.
You should make leader in a very short time...
westendcat
says...
9:34am Thu 18 Oct 12
Hippy Steve
says...
10:23am Thu 18 Oct 12
westendcat wrote:Please elucidate - rather than just pointing a finger, some facts to back up your comment might be appropriate?
I think you'll find that this debacle has its origins in the LibDem element of DorchesterTown Council - to whit, Jones and Lyall.
shadybottoms
says...
3:03pm Thu 18 Oct 12
CoogarUK.com wrote:As a retired ex-market trader in Cornhill, I can confirm that the council (lobbied by some large retailers) have been trying to close the Cornhill market for years. However, the market was given a Royal Charter in the 1300s and I believe that this cannot be closed without an Act of Parliament.
I entirely agree with those who have already made similar comments: The Cornhill stalls are a tradition going back many, many years and I feel they do actually add something to the street scene. If an improvement is needed it is to get rid of those dreadful street markets that clog up the whole of South St. on a regular basis.
So, yet another closed council meeting then? It is surely time for some kind of proper protest to ensure WDDC gets the message that they are elected to serve US and not THEM.
Come on Dorset people - reclaim your rights and do not be bullied by councillors who should be acting on your behalf!
DickDastardly
says...
4:46pm Thu 18 Oct 12
dontbuyit
says...
6:15pm Thu 18 Oct 12
shadybottoms
says...
6:27pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Fred Kite
says...
11:40am Sat 20 Oct 12
The same Conservative party which claims “we are all in this together”?
westendcat
says...
3:12pm Sat 20 Oct 12
Messrs Jones and Lyall are part of the working group who instigated (along with Chisholme) the review of the Cornhill market. One must also not forget the macheovelli TC of Dorchester, Dennis Holmes.
westendcat
says...
3:12pm Sat 20 Oct 12
Messrs Jones and Lyall are part of the working group who instigated (along with Chisholme) the review of the Cornhill market. One must also not forget the macheovelli TC of Dorchester, Dennis Holmes.
westendcat
says...
3:31pm Sat 20 Oct 12
Sunrisedawn
says...
4:25pm Sat 20 Oct 12
shadybottoms wrote:We (the market traders) would love to talk with you, how do we contact you? Or maybe you could just pop down and see us at Cornhill ....
Further to my post yesterday, I believe that WDDC would be in contempt of court if the proposed closure of the Cornhill market went ahead. I believe that this matter went to the High Court in London in the 60s or 70s when a similar attempt was made. A High Court Judge ruled that under the Royal Charter closure could not be made without an amendment by Act of Parliament, therefore a precident has been established. The Town Council was originally responsible for the control and running of this market. During the 90s WDDC assumed responsibility. I would question the legal right of this move under the terms of the Charter. If the WDDC is legally responsible, what monetary compensation is to be offered to the traders? My advice would be for the traders to get legal representation and please contact me if you need further help.
Will706
says...
5:18pm Sat 20 Oct 12
dontbuyit
says...
8:13pm Sat 20 Oct 12
With the new council offices where they are, yet more traffic is going to be clogging up the roads around town and yet I've never seen any mention of this in the WDDCs agenda. So shouldn't they be looking at the big problems here instead of what appears to be a political/commercial agenda?
weylin
says...
11:55pm Sat 20 Oct 12
But, we persuaded (along with protests) the council to re site it on the next street!
westendcat
says...
3:47pm Sun 21 Oct 12
SILVERMAN
says...
8:04pm Sun 21 Oct 12
The residents clearly want these traders here... or they wouldnt still be in business
EtaoinShrdlu
says...
3:09am Mon 22 Oct 12
Hippy Steve
says...
9:17am Mon 22 Oct 12
EtaoinShrdlu wrote:Wow! With that sort of bigoted, narrow-minded attitude, if not for the slant on the tories I'd have thought you were at least a council leader, if not a cabinet minister.
Ah, the small traders, backbone of the Tory Party, and NONE OF THEM PAY TAX because they trouser all the cash. A trait learned from the Tory hierarchy of course. And very close to the famous Travellers. Meanwhile, the poor old plebs keep paying their taxes and have to put up with all their mess plus the cretinous decisions by the council.
Maybe you are but you've just had a few too many to put forward a sensible argument without slandering those hard working entrepreneurs who do pay their taxes, irrespective of their political views?
Sunrisedawn
says...
2:18pm Mon 22 Oct 12
EtaoinShrdlu wrote:Well, "South Ireland" that was a bit rude ..... and written at 3am when most of us are tucked up in bed! For your information we DO pay our taxes. Would you prefer us to be unemployed and claiming benefits? We work hard at Cornhill Market to make a living to support our families, we are not scroungers or thieves, and we do not leave a mess in South Street!
Ah, the small traders, backbone of the Tory Party, and NONE OF THEM PAY TAX because they trouser all the cash. A trait learned from the Tory hierarchy of course. And very close to the famous Travellers. Meanwhile, the poor old plebs keep paying their taxes and have to put up with all their mess plus the cretinous decisions by the council.
shadybottoms
says...
3:19pm Mon 22 Oct 12
o.uk
misterm
says...
7:46pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Dorset Guy says...
1:52pm Tue 16 Oct 12