‘We’re back where we belong!’
As stallholders in Leek return to their former location Post & Times chief reporter Leslie Jackson talks to some long-serving members celebrating the move...
STALLHOLDERS attending Leek Wednesday outdoor market are celebrating after being returned to the top of Derby Street.
Last October Sybil Ralphs, the former leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, moved the stalls to the cobbled area of Market Place.
But several refused to go there and were moved to the bottom of Derby Street at Sparrow Park.
However, some traders said they had faced up to 70 per cent loss of trading and were thinking of leaving the town. Several others decided to leave after the move.
But within days of taking over as council leader, Paul Roberts moved the market stalls back to their former base in Derby Street. Mr Roberts also ordered the Market Place cobbled area be opened up for car parking on Wednesdays.
Iona Robinson, who sells jewellery, said: “I am delighted to be back on my stall in Derby Street. My takings were 70 per cent down when we were forced to move. I hope we can now pick up the trade we lost and get the market back to normal. The shops in the street are also happy to see us return.”
Maresh Chaddha’s family have been attending Leek market selling clothing for 47 years. His father ran the stall before him.
He said: “I am very glad to be back. I hope we can now stay here. My trade dropped drastically when we were forced to move. I just hope they will now leave us alone, so we can build back our trade again. I know that we can do it.”
Sue Lane sells women’s underwear and has been on the market for more than 20 years.
She said: “It is lovely to be back. This has caused a lot of financial problems for all of us. We should never have been moved, especially at a time when we were just getting back after covid. Over the last few months I have only just been breaking even.
“I do believe we can now get back to normal to having a business and not running at a loss.” Anthony Dixon, of Buxton, has been on the Leek market for 10 years and sells carpets.
He said: “I am glad to be back. My takings have dropped significantly since we were forced to move with a loss of about 50 per cent. We also lost a lot of Christmas trade, but I now hope we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“I just hope we can now stay here as there is more footfall on the street.”
I just hope they will now leave us alone so we can build back our trade Stallholder Maresh Chaddha