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‘A total mess’: Remaining traders at Victoria Centre Market say Nottingham City Council is trying to push them out

The few traders left at Victoria Centre Market say the city council is acting in ‘bad faith’ by making a ‘very obvious effort’ to close down the market without negotiating compensation for businesses.

The council has closed the Glasshouse Street entrance and begun removing signs, before the market has actually closed fully.

David Bowey, co-owner of Tick King, says the way traders have been treated feels ‘terrible’.

“We’ve had the business for 10 years. We’re talking about businesses that have been here for decades, a lot longer than I have, and this is a community at the end of the day. When we walk around and we’ve seen it go from 200 (businesses) down to only five remaining now, it’s sad.

“We accept that the market is going to close, it’s just we cannot leave until we’ve got some sort of continuation of business after the market closes and as of yet, the council have not made an offer to us that would allow us to do that.”

Mr Bowey said the offer of compensation made by the council was a ‘lowball offer’ and that it would not allow him to continue the business.

“It feels like they’re trying to impede conversations with us. They have met us, they’ve not increased their offer but then when we come out the meetings we walk into the market to continue trading business, it feels like they’re trying to stop us trading freely and openly.”

He added he has served court documents to the council, but it’s likely to be a year until the case makes it to a civil court.

In June 2024 the council, which is the market’s leaseholder, confirmed it would be asking stall owners to hand back their keys this year after declaring the site unsustainable. The authority says it needs to shut the market to save on operating costs long-term while it recovers from effective bankruptcy.

Giving up running the market will save £39 million over the remaining 50 years of the lease, the council says.

Although the closure deadline passed in March, there are five traders with stalls still open for business, with negotiations ongoing to determine compensation for those left.

Mona’s Beauty Bar owner Rajesh Dhingra also spoke of his disappointment at traders having to pack up their stores.

“I wish that Nottingham City Council actually had a plan of how to close the market, and then stuck to the plan. At the moment it just seems like it’s just been a total mess. I couldn’t see how anyone could do a worse job, its practically impossible.

“We were really happy here. We had no intention to leave, it’s something that’s been forced on us by Nottingham City Council.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “As part of standard operational procedure, Nottingham City Council is removing signage from vacant stalls at Victoria Market.

“We are also taking steps to restrict public access to areas of the market that are no longer in retail use. This helps to reduce ongoing costs such as lighting, cleaning, and maintenance, and is also a necessary measure to address anti-social behaviour that has been reported in unused parts of the building.”

Shoppers have also complained about the action taken by the city council.

“I think its terrible. I used to come to this market and look around and I could get anything I wanted. I don’t know what things are coming to nowadays for them to shut it down like that, it’s just not on,” one shopper, who asked to be named only as Joy, told Notts TV.