Video: Traders and shoppers react to the changes
Traders and shoppers are divided over a £100,000 revamp of Mansfield Market unveiled on Tuesday.
The town’s district council has moved all stalls from Westgate on to the main Market Place, and installed new stall canopies and signs.
A car boot sale will also run on the first Sunday of each month and there will be more live entertainment and food stalls.
Some traders say they are optimistic about the changes, designed to improve trade as the market continues to try to compete with supermarkets and online shopping.
But others say they are against the moves and say the money could have been better spent.
Nicole Barrows, who has been on the market for 30 years with her household items stall, said: “I’d like to know where the £100,000 has gone – new stall tops I admit, new boards, but what else have they spent it on. I know we are getting new stalls.
“Before people knew where to look for you – today all I’ve had is ‘oh, there you are’.”
You can’t please everybody
Another trader said: “I think something had to be done because the market was in decline. I know a lot of people who are not happy with it – ie the Westgate traders, but you can’t please everybody.”
Picture: The market has a new layout and stall designs
Mansfield Mayor Kate Allsop says the council is confident the changes will give the market the boost it needs.
“The market is facing massive competition from supermarkets, places like Meadow Hall (in Sheffield) and the internet.
“We’re supporting our market traders – we’re investing a huge amount of money so that their businesses will flourish.”
Mansfield District Council has produced full maps of the new stall layouts, as well as events listings.
