Posted: Tue 6th Dec 2016

‘Peoples Market To Close In January’ – Council’s 3 Week Development U-Turn

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Dec 6th, 2016

The  People’s Market will close while construction takes place on converting the building into an Arts and Cultural Hub – a U-turn on previous assurances to traders and the public that work and trade would take place simultaneously.

Isobel Garner, Project Manager for the ‘regeneration of the People’s Market/Oriel Wrecsam’, or as it is locally known the Arts Hub conversion, was asked the direct question by Matt McHale from La Baguette if the People’s Market is closing after a lively discussion in the Town Centre Forum meeting this evening.

Ms Garner clarified that the frontage shops outside, car park and the ‘corridor’ areas would remain open, but the market hall would be closed for work with no traders remaining.

UPDATE: The full exchange is below…

The meeting was told of ‘discussions’ which was countered with, ‘I am a trader. There was no discussions we were told to go.’

The Chairman at that point said, “Around 12 months ago there was commitment to work with traders and certain commitments were made by the Council, and Officers are still working along those lines.”

A trader interrupted, ‘There are no ifs or buts, they told me I was going. I want to stay’, another trader verified that account adding, ‘There was no discussion, we were told to leave’.

‘Customers are coming in day in day out asking what is happening. I have to say to them, I don’t know. It is hard to make a living. I have been trading there for twenty years and they kick us out like this.’

Wrexham.com pointed out to the Chair that the commitments mentioned by him involved traders being accommodated inside the market alongside the work, and that in a matter of weeks a market town could lose one of its three markets, and that it could be worthwhile to liaise with Wrexham Council.

At this point the Guildhall Chamber door creaked open, so we invited the Chair to perhaps ask Isobel Garner who had just entered the room to give better clarity, as she was heading up the project and party to the meetings.

Ms Garner began by saying, “As you know traders all got given notice to quit six months ago as were going to be relocating them from the stalls as it is now. We are currently in negotiation with individual traders about the best way forward once the contractors are on site.”

“Until we’ve finished those negotiations I can’t really share much more information with you as each trader has different needs.”

This was countered by the trader who said: “From my point of view there hasn’t been a great deal of discussion, you said I had to leave. That is not a discussion that is a demand.”

Ms Garner said: “We had a meeting with all of the traders involved on Thursday morning to outline…”

Trader, Brian from Wrexham Vacuums interrupted: “Where to go”

Ms Garner continued, “…options. Brian was unfortunately unable to attend.”

Brian then interjected: “We had a meeting on stall my later and you said ‘you have to go’. That is the truth.”

That was not disputed by Ms Garner who said, “That is because we had negotiations with the others, and the majority.”

A ‘tipping point’ was referred to, Ms Garner said, “Yeah, the majority of traders, the meeting we had had the previous morning, agreed that they would relocate to various other locations.”

Matt McHale then asked: “You are saying the tipping point has been reached and the Peoples Market is closing in January?”

Ms Garner said “Yes. The market hall. Yes.”

Mr McHale recounted Scrutiny meetings and various promises over the years where traders were assured the market would not be closed, nor traders removed from the market.

Ms Garner explained, “It is two years on and things have changed.”

Wrexham.com pointed out that we had met with contractors four weeks ago, and that working around traders was still the intention at that point, asking ‘It is not an eighteen month decision is it?’

Ms Garner replied: “There have been a number of changes in the last four weeks, as surveys have been carried out, and as we have been talking to individual traders about their individual needs. Some traders have already relocated, some are looking at relocating. The less traders you have got to talk to about space availability the less opportunity you have to draw people to that space.

“If we can relocate people to where there is more footfall it will be better for their business in the interim period. It is what we want to do is to keep them trading, so that we can have them come back to our new facility.

A trader countered: “I have three weeks to go. What am I supposed to tell a customer? I don’t know, they have not told me.”

Ms Garner replied “We have in principle agreed a space with you, and will be confirming that with you on Thursday.”

Another trader added, “We had no option. We had to go.”

Later Alun Hughes said: “These are people’s livelihoods. I hope whatever the outcome, people are looked after fully and long term.”

Town Centre Forum Chairman Nigel Lewis said: “Looks to me over the course of the last week or so there doesn’t appear to be a critical mass of whats left to keep in the building.

“It all comes down to the word communication. It does look like a continued commitment to work with the traders.”

Original information:

A six months notice period was referenced by Ms Garner as justification and to counter the short notice period claim – however looking back at the information given out at the time when we asked on that specific point, it was very clearly stated it was not a notice to leave with the Council saying at the time: “The People’s Market will remain fully open and operational during the transition period.”

The meeting was told of a ‘tipping point’ where a number of traders are or have left meaning ‘the space is no longer viable’ and thus closure. Questions were also raised about the safety of those trading in the building while construction work takes place.

This news appeared to come to a surprise to all in the room, including the Chair of the Forum Nigel Lewis who has made much of his ongoing liaising on the project to reassure traders previously.

Although there were several Councillors present only Cllr Bill Baldwin spoke to note he chaired the Scrutiny Committee over the Peoples Market / Arts Hub conversion and that the information and outcome was contrary to the assurances given at the time.

At the time of the meeting the following signage was still in place on the Peoples Market:
peoplesmarket2
peoplesmarket3

Four weeks ago Wrexham.com was told at a photo call (below) by Wrexham Council and Wynne Construction how the long planned development would be with traders remaining in the market itself and traders not affected – a situation that has dramatically u-turned in the last few weeks as ‘circumstances have changed’.

wynne-wins-construction

Yesterday we asked Wrexham Council about the January closure date, and why it appears no longer possible for work to take place around the traders, and what had changed over the last few weeks.

Wrexham Council did not answer the questions directly as we would not supply the requested identity of traders who had spoken to us, many of whom did not wish to share that as they are currently in negotiations since the meeting on Thursday.

They did however say: “It is very difficult to comment on an anonymous complaint to the media. Those who feel aggrieved by the proposals are free to contact staff themselves who will be happy to discuss their concerns.”

We understand traders are keen to stress that they will still be trading, although at the moment there is no public clarity as from where.



Spotted something? Got a story? Email [email protected]



Have a look at...

What to expect with new first minister set to be appointed and cabinet reshuffle on the horizon

Updated: Firefighters called to incident at Bryn Lane recycling centre

Wrexham Council first in north Wales to install men’s sanitary bins in public toilets

Former Debenhams store in Wrexham could become trampoline park

Video: Wrexham market’s historic secrets are being uncovered amid refurb

Competition watchdog launches investigation into £2.5 billion merger between Flintshire based Redrow and Barratt

Shopmobility Wrexham expands services with Saturday opening trial

National awards success for Wrexham mental health service

Life or death medical mistakes happening due to bad translation, finds Senedd

Welsh Government’s £30m Warm Homes scheme delayed until April

Chester Zoo cameras capture incredible moment Rothschild’s giraffe calf drops 6ft during birth

North Wales MS praises ‘life-saving’ CPR training that only takes 15 minutes