New market stalls for Bridge Street are given green light

Three new ‘Gondolas’ which will house market traders in Bridge Street have been approved by city council planners despite a debate over the design.

The three new ‘Gondolas’ that will house four stalls each and make up the new open-air Bridge Street market have had their planning application approved.

Members of the city council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee gave the go-ahead despite last-minute confusion over their design.

Speaking at the meeting (Tuesday, January 25) David Turnock from Peterborough Civic Society said: “While the society broadly supports the new market and feels that Bridge Street is the correct location for it, we are at a loss to understand why the designs being put before the committee today are not those that were approved by the stallholders in December.

“I understand today’s meeting is to get approval, if possible, for the 12 stalls on the application, so I would say let’s get it approved but with the right drawings so there is no confusion about what we are approving should the matter arise in the future.

“We want to support this new market in every way that we can and help with its prosperity in the future, whether that be with 3 so-called ‘Gondolas’ or six or ten; we simply want Peterborough market to succeed.” The confusion arose when members were shown artist’s impressions of the ‘Gondolas’ both open and occupied and shut when closed.

These appeared to differ from the original artist’s impressions that were shown to prospective stallholders in December.

Despite the confusion over the final agreed design of the ‘Gondolas’ members of the committee unanimously approved the planning application leaving the path clear for construction to begin.

The market stall designs approved