Traders hopeful business will pick up with new store
Left to right: Market traders Daz Cavnor, Mick Dench, Geoff Able, Kev Butterfield, Christine Arnold, Lisa Gibson, Debbie Barstow and Kate Perry.
MARKET traders in Goldthorpe are hoping an all-new supermarket development will bring more footfall to their struggling independent businesses.
Plans for a Lidl to be built on the site on High Street, where Goldthorpe Primary once stood, were approved last month. The new development is just yards away from the revamped market.
The community market, open between 9am and 3pm on Mondays, includes second-hand stalls and goods from local artists and makers and free parking.
Customer footfall has been poor, so far, according to traders.
Trader Kath Millington said: “It’s a shame because it could be a good market, it’s not fair. I’ve only taken £2 since seven o’clock this morning.”
Christine Arnold, who runs a handbag stall, added: “No, it isn’t good at all. The first week we opened up it was quite busy but after that people have just been walking in and out. We’ve been trying to get a green grocers but can’t get one.”
Traders hope once the new supermarket opens, it will bring much needed customers from over the road.
Mick Dench, who runs neighbouring stall Wood4You, added: “If you’re trying to make a living here – you’re in dire straits.”
Lisa Gibson, who runs Lisa Victoria, selling natural remedies, crystals and pet care, said: “A lot of people don’t know we’re here, and this is our eighth week here now.”
A report released by the council states that ‘overall, the proposed retail development is accepted to be appropriate to the scale, role, function and character of Goldthorpe District Centre as it will bring an anchor store to a brownfield site located prominently within the centre attracting shoppers and encouraging linked trips’.
‘The landscaping proposed would create an attractive development in the Goldthorpe District Centre, where there is currently an empty and unsightly brownfield site.’
The development will also include a 110 space car park.
In addition to the new Lidl, it is understood the markets, bought by the council last year through Towns Fund investment, will also get a refurbishment with the introduction of a new plaza.
Coun Neil Danforth is happy with the latest development: “It’s one of the best things to happen to Goldthorpe.
“Everything has been bad news recently, and the site has been vacant for years. It wants something there because there’s going to be a new town square. We’ve agreed to let people park there for two hours, so there is more chance of people going into Goldthorpe itself too.”