Peterborough will have a ‘top-class’ market councillors told

Speaking to members of the Joint Meeting of the Scrutiny Committees at their online meeting this week, Cllr Amjad Iqbal said: “I see that the proposed disposal schedule includes Northminster and the current market.

“What is the up-to-date plan for the market and stall-holders, and how viable are any plans that we have if there are any?”

Steve Cox, Executive Director, Place and Economy replied: “There is a working group established that has been set up to look at the new market possibilities with all options being considered for the type of market and the location within the city centre.”

Cllr Marco Cereste, Cabinet member for Waste, Street Scene and the Environment added: “We all believe that a market is an important part of our community.

“We’re doing a great deal of work to try and find an alternative position and to provide the city with a really top-class market in the future.

“Beyond that, I can’t tell you very much because we simply don’t know.”

Leader of the Council, Cllr John Holdich commented: “There’s a planning application from Northminster that will go in, in the next couple of months and that application still includes a market within it.

“If you want to move the market to somewhere else then everybody would probably be quite delighted, I think.

“But the market is still in there, in the proposal to go forward as a planning application within Northminster.”

Cllr Shabina Qayyum asked: “Because these stall-holders have been out of work, are they going to be kept up-to-date and informed about their future with regards to a city market – and have they been consulted with regards to provision plans?”

Steve Cox replied: “The quick answer is ‘yes’ they have, and they will be kept updated.”