Small independent traders claim they're being driven out of an Ayrshire market venue — because council beaks have 'introduced' a new market operators license fees which they can’t afford.
Ayrshire Live can exclusively reveal that one trader, whose business had an association with Ayr for 35 years, has been forced to cancel ALL future events.
We can further reveal that the problem is more widespread — with evidence suggesting that the introduction of the new fees at The Grain Exchange, Ayr, costing £1,080, is forcing traders away from the town centre.
Chris Pleasance owns Allander Record Fairs, which had an association with Ayr for 35 years.
He revealed: “We've announced the cancellation of the Record Fair due to take place at the Grain Exchange on October 14 and October 15 — and all future events.
“This is due to South Ayrshire Council, who after 35 years of Record Fairs, have decided to impose a Market Operators License on this event held three or four times a year.
“This involves a significant extra cost (£1,080) along with time spent on unnecessary bureaucracy, making the event unviable.”
The Ayr Record Fair was first held in the Station Hotel in 1987.
Chris traded as a dealer and helped revive the event, relocating it to the Kyle Shopping Centre, then the Grain Exchange.
He said: “We agreed to run a couple of fairs. They've been very popular, attracting hundreds of people and become a regular event, even during Covid.
“Staff at the Grain Exchange have always been very friendly and helpful to us — despite having to deal with some ridiculous directives, procedures and policies passed down from local authority management.”
Chris, 60, added: “I'm particularly unhappy about the way things were done with no concern about the financial impact on the events that have to be cancelled and the people working at them, Also the time and effort that goes into establishing events like this over the years.
“If I trade at Ayr Record Fair or not, it will not have any great financial impact on me.
“But I know that other dealers are struggling. Losing a weekend's takings will be very difficult for them — and could be viewed as economic abuse."
Other traders have come forward with complaints about the fee.
And the Handmade in Ayr Market traders, who previously held regular events in the Grain Exchange, involving 15 to 16 traders, have also ended their association with the venue.
Organisers are looking to secure a regular pitch at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, in Alloway.
Another fuming trader said: “The council have moved the goalposts on us. They’re almost forcing us to pull out of the high street.
“It’s thrown a spanner in the works. I know one or two other people who organise markets in Ayr Town Centre. They have told me they are definitely pulling out.”
A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson said the market operator’s licence has been in place for “many years”, but its relevance to the Grain Exchange has only recently been “reviewed.”
However, in a fresh development, the local authority has said they will now take on the financial burden for a licence.
The spokesperson continued: “The current arrangement is that anyone can trade individually in the Grain Exchange for free as part of any council-led markets.
“We have also applied for a full licence for the venue, this means anyone running their own market at the Grain Exchange, would not have to purchase a temporary one-off licence, or a full licence at £1,080 (for three years).”
To book a space contact info@thegrainexchange.co.uk
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