Market traders in Arnold have said they want to stay where they are as Gedling Borough Council looks to make what was a temporary move permanent.
When work began on the new £4m Arnold Market Place (AMP) in 2020, the local authority moved traders from that site, who had stood there selling goods three days a week for 50 years.
The move was initially met with scepticism from existing traders, who said they feared losing passing trade and being impacted by windy or poor weather conditions on Eagle Square, near High Street.
But now some traders have said they want to make the move permanent as the Labour-led authority looks to consult them on staying in the square full-time.
Steve Bradley, 63, helps his son run a clothes store on the market and says the move to Eagle Square has been successful.
He said: “It’s a lot better here and the public seems to have embraced it.
“I was indifferent to it at the time because nobody likes change and was a bit apprehensive, but it seems to have been a successful move because it’s central to the shops.
“It’s a lot better here, we were quite worried about the weather and wind but that’s proved to be manageable. I’d definitely prefer to stay here.”
Tony Smith, 62, has also held a stall on the market for a number of years and wants the move to be made permanent.
He said: “I do like it here, it seems better and I want to stay here.
“I have already voiced that opinion to the council when we were asked. It’s more or less the same but there seems to be a bit more passing trade.
“We weren’t too keen to come here in the first place because we thought it might be too windy but there have been two winters now and the weather hasn’t been a problem.”
Andy Green, a third market trader, added: “I think we’ll probably stay here, it’s been no worse or better than when we were [at the original Arnold Market]. The trade has been the same.”
Last week, Gedling Borough Council confirmed it plans to keep the traders on Eagle Square after the move from the former site proved a “success”.
Speaking as the authority opened the new £4m market last week, a council spokesperson said: “Following extensive consultation, the stallholders moved to nearby Eagle Square while the works were carried out (on the new AMP).
“Thanks to its success, plans are in place for the traders to stay at the location, subject to consultation with the stall holders.”
The authority has also approved an extension of the Eagle Square location until at least the end of January 2023 while it conducts a consultation with traders.
Shoppers and nearby businesses will also be consulted.
A council paper said: “The council has the option to relocate the market to the new development site.
“However, this option would ignore the informal feedback received from the traders and the positive impact the market has made to a primary gateway into the town centre.
“The option to extend the current arrangement provides an opportunity for the council to undertake a full review of options with traders, businesses and shoppers.”
A delegated decision last week allowed the consultation to be launched, with the authority’s website revealing this will determine the “permanent location of Arnold Market”.
