Thousands sign up to save the market
TRADERS have vowed to fight the closure of Lancaster Market amid fears that it will become "another Blobbygate".
Little-known low-cost supermarket Asco is believed to have been lined up by the city council to move into the market hall, leaving 123 traders and market staff out of work.
But Lancaster residents this week came out in overwhelming support of the market, with around 4,000 people signing a petition, and a Facebook group attracting more than 2,500 members within days of the closure being announced.
Asco – which markets itself at people shopping little and often – plans to open 25 to 30 stores in the north in the next three years.
A Lancaster store could bring in up to 60 part-time and 100 full-time jobs.
However, Asco currently has just one store in Warrington, which laid off staff within weeks of opening in December.
The business was set up by Ted Ward, who previously owned Darwen Football Club – which went into administration last May. He also launched The Darrener newspaper, which folded after only nine months, leaving staff unpaid.
Mr Ward resigned as Asco managing director last month, and now assists the firm on a consultancy basis only.
Asco – represented by Lancaster marketing firm Apparatus – was unavailable for comment as the Guardian went to press.
Market tenants' committee chairman Peter Corke said traders were concerned about the possibility of Asco taking over the market hall.
"We will not give up without a fight." he said.
"The traders are all very disappointed with the council because they are taking a massive risk instead of relying on people who have been here for many years. There are ways of reducing the deficit by working with the traders and keeping the market on one level, and then looking for a firm to take on the lower level.
"We believe that more innovative solutions can be considered which could eventually turn the market hall into a vibrant trading unit."
Green councillors believe the council is taking "an overwhelming risk".
Coun Anne Chapman said: "This could easily be a re-run of the disastrous attempt to set up a Mr Blobby theme park, which wasted 2million of council tax back in the 1990s."
The decision on closing the market goes before full council on Wednesday, and any plans for the future of the site could take a further six months to complete.
Council chiefs said they had been looking for a long-term solution to the problem for 18 months.
The council's yearly rent to building owners Allied Lancaster on a 99-year lease stands at 461,000, but this will rise to 492,000 in the next financial year.
Chief executive Mark Cullinan said: "The city council has been concerned about the financial state of the market for a number of years and every single option has been considered to find alternatives to improve the situation."
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Weather for Lancaster
Saturday 04 February 2012
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