Traders at Nottingham's "best market" have been left frustrated because they will temporarily have to move their stalls to a car park while "essential tram works" are carried out. Stallholders in Hyson Green put up their stands near the Asda store in Radford Road twice a week, greeting customers with an array of products on offer.
The market is set to be affected because of planned maintenance on the tram network. NET previously announced that officials would replace the tracks at the Hyson Green stop.
Some of the tracks have been in place for more than 18 years and tram bosses said it was essential sections of the track were replaced to ensure the "continued safe and smooth operation of Nottingham trams".
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Starting on Wednesday, July 27, the work will last until Sunday, August 7. During that period it means no trams will run between Wilkinson Street and The Forest in both directions. Though a replacement bus service will be in operation.
But in the heart of Hyson Green, it will mean market traders will have to relocate to the grounds of the Asda car park for a period. Nottingham City Council officials said they'd been doing all they can to mitigate the impact of the works.
City council bosses have written to traders to explain the situation and said the option of stalls continuing to trade from the normal site was "not viable because of the nature of the work and safety of both traders and shoppers".
But some the traders have been left sceptical over the relocation which they fear could take trade away from the market, saying "customers do not like change". When Nottinghamshire Live visited the market on a busy Wednesday morning (July 13), Martin Dring was facing long queues of customers shopping for fresh fruit and veg from his stall. Summarising his thoughts on the relocation of the stalls throughout the tram works, the 50-year-old said: "Obviously it is better that it is being moved to the Asda car park than shut, but I am still not happy with the decision.
"But they were taking away our business. We are not able to work without our market. This is the best market in Nottingham. Surely something could be arranged to let us run it for the next two weeks as normal. People have come here for years. I am not sure whether they will want to go to the car park instead.
"I am not sure how it is going to work if it is moved to the car park. Customers do not like change. I have staff to pay, and I just know that I need to save up because the next two weeks will be difficult. It is just frustrating really."
Mark Wilson, who has worked as a butcher on the market for 30 years, explained traders were initially told the market could close for two weeks until the news it would move to the car park.
"Now we are being moved to the Asda car park," he said. "It is better than closing it all together. I have four children and a dog. That would be my wage for two weeks, which is not fair. And it is letting customers down."
The 50-year-old knows some of his most loyal customers by their names, and gives advice when asked. He added: "We have a good relationship with our customers. They will hopefully still come to the market, even though it had to moved somewhere else. It is tricky, though."
Others, however, were pleased they were still able to trade during the tram network upgrades. Glen Bradley, the owner of Cleaver Meats, added: "It is a fair compromise. It is not perfect, but it better than not being able to open at all. I would hate to let our customers down. At least we have got an alternative now."
The 35-year-old added: "I have been doing this since I left school. It is a pretty busy market, customers go in and out. Missing two weeks would have put us in a very difficult position. We do not know what it is going to be like."
NET bosses have said "noise mitigating measures" will be in place wherever possible but "some noise may be heard". They have also apologised for the inconvenience caused.
Access for road users and pedestrians along Terrace Street will be maintained throughout the day Road diversions may be in place during some evenings and overnight to allow access to delivery vehicles.
Any road diversions in place will be clearly signposted. Speaking previously, Trevor Stocker, NET head of operations, said: “The work has been scheduled for what is traditionally one of the quietest times of the year for the network, but we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience and thank both customers and the local community for their patience and understanding."
A Nottingham City Council spokesman said: “We understand the impact on traders and are doing all we can to mitigate against this, including offering temporary alternative pitches where this is helpful. We wrote to stallholders last week to explain the situation.
“These are essential tram works to replace tracks which we have been told need to happen at this point of the year because of existing arrangements with contractors. It will take place at the end of the month and last for just under two weeks.
"The option to remain on site Hyson Green is unfortunately not viable because of the nature of the work and safety of both traders and shoppers.”
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