Sanson market’s future in doubt

The Sanson Sunday Market, a fixture of the town for more than two decades, faces an uncertain future after the sale of its home at the former Junction Hotel.

Sanson’s market has been held in the motel’s car park, at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 3, for 21 years, but that may end in as little as five months.

Manawatu¯ District Council spokesman Paul Stein said the council-owned property has been sold and the new owners will take over in June, but the market will be able to continue as usual in the meantime. Uncertainty isn’t new for the market. The council has been looking to redevelop or sell the Junction Hotel site since it bought the property for $590,000 a decade ago.

Stein said the council sold the Junction Hotel after working with developers to identify potential uses for the highly visible site. The deal was not completely finalised and much remained commercially sensitive – including the sale price and the identity of the purchaser, he said.

Sanson Market organisers wouldn’t comment. But, stallholders are concerned. Caroline Smith said she and the other stallholders couldn’t think of another suitable site anywhere in town. ‘‘We’re all just hoping that the new people will want to [keep it].’’

Mayor Helen Worboys said the Junction Hotel sale meant the council could work with the new owner and the community to provide new facilities for both residents and travellers. But, the market was not being forgotten, she said. ‘‘The market is a popular place and I will be working with the Sanson Community Committee to find a new location where it can grow and continue to be a vibrant reflection of the town’’

The market faced the same situation when the council sold the site to Projex Developments in 2012, but received a reprieve after the deal fell through.