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‘We are here to stay’: Victoria Centre Market traders still doing business past council’s closure day

By Henry Green

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A number of traders are still in business at the Victoria Centre Market despite council plans to close it on Monday.

Nottingham City Council first announced it wanted to close the market in 2022 and in September 2024, the Labour-run authority said it had started terminating legal agreements with traders who had break clauses.

Traders were then given a leaving date of March 31, but many still remain as of Monday (March 31). Those still in business have previously said they had been left confused since plans to initially close the market fell through.

Now, with multiple stalls still open traders are asking for more compensation to relocate.

Stephen Taylor, whose shop Aladdin’s Cave in the Victoria Centre Market remains open, said: “The first letter I had was date March 17 and the first meeting I had was just over a week ago.

“It could have been a gold mine but it has just been badly managed. It’s an insane decision, we can’t make plans as this has been going on for four years now I don’t think there’s anything we can do now,” Stephen added.

Stephen, whose family has used the market stall since it opened in 1972, doesn’t plan to leave anytime soon but said he would be willing to relocate should an offer that he is happy with be put forward.

“We want assurances on what would happen and where we would go but we have just had the council telling us that ‘this could happen if you don’t move out’,” Stephen said.

Another market trader that remains open is watch repair shop Tik King. David Bowey, who owns the business and is in a legal dispute with Nottingham City Council, said: “Today is a great day, we can finally prove that we were telling the truth all along, the council cannot close this market.

“We are here to stay. If we are to move we would want fair compensation for myself, our relocation costs covered and I have only been offered one ninth of those costs, which is simply not enough, I should not have to take money out of my own pocket for the council to close the market,” David added.

The council has previously said the closure of the market would save £39m over the remaining 50 years of its term.

Councillor Sam Lux, the council’s cabinet member for climate and culture, said: “We understand that the closure of the market is a significant change for many traders who have been part of our community for years.

“We have been clear on plans to close the market. We cannot justify using the Nottingham tax-payers’ money to subsidise private businesses at a time when demand on council services is so high.

“Our priority since announcing the closure date, and serving notice to tenants, has been to support these businesses through this transition.

“It’s a shame that there are a small number of traders who have not been open to negotiations. We understand these are people’s businesses, but as a council we have a duty to protect the public purse.”