Dismay for stallholders as town applies to shut market hall over growing losses

STALLHOLDERS HAVE responded with dismay after discovering that Goole Market is to close.

The market hall, which opened in 1898, has been run by the town council for over three decades.

But town clerk Brian Robertson said it was in “terminal decline” losing £48,700 last year.

It is budgeted to lose more than £50,000 this year – which equates to around five per cent of the money the town council raises from local taxpayers.

Mr Robertson said they had given notice to owners East Riding Council and were “committed to closing next March”.

He said: “A lot of people have been complaining about the closure but they are not shopping there. It’s the usual cliché – use it or lose it.

“For years traders have been struggling against online shopping, out-of-town shopping centres where you can park outside and buy everything and pound shops.

“They can’t compete – if you take something like fruit and veg they can’t buy the stock in for what Aldi and Lidl are selling it for.

“We have tried various incentives to increase occupancy, but everything we have tried to do is obviously not working.”

The market currently has just 14 traders including a delicatessen. Stallholders also sells shoes, bric a brac, books and rugs.

Traders admitted they were just about “keeping their heads above water”.

One said: “I always thought Goole Town Council was for the people of Goole, but they have willy-nilly passed us back to the East Riding. We need the East Riding to come along and say what is going to happen.”

An East Riding Council spokesman said the town council was responsible for the “management and operation of the property, including the market, under the terms of their lease”.

The spokesman added the authority was aware of the town council’s decision and discussions between the two parties are taking place.