The York Council is seeking to ban market traders from Parliament Street.
Parliament Street was the traditional home of the York market for many years before it was moved into Newgate. It was refurbished and relaunched as the Shambles market last year.
York Food and Drink Festival
Speciality farmers and continental markets continued to be held on Parliament Street and were generally a welcome addition to the street scene.
Now they are to be shunted into a limited space within the Shambles market.
A report to a council committee taking place on Tuesday says
“The proposals include the refurbished marketplace being the focal point for markets and the sole city centre location where markets will be held – with the exception of St Nicholas Fair – and will accommodate all themed markets.
They also address the need to provide a diverse range of goods while welcoming casual traders, service standards and positively promoting the market.
To support traders in their planning and marketing, the report proposes that from 1 September 2015, traders will have the choice of taking either a four-week or a six-month licence which will be granted for specified days and commodities”.
We have previously recorded that we think the Council missed an opportunity when it invested over £1.6 million in the market refurbishment. There was a chance to reinvigorate Parliament Street while moving -and enlarging – the cycle park which could have occupied part of the Newgate site.
Other areas – such as Duncombe Place and Acomb Front Street – could have been the new home for special events and markets.
Now that opportunity seems to have been lost for ever.