Traders defend new market following criticism
BBCTraders have defended the refurbished Cornhill Market in Lincoln after some described it as "a costly flop".
The two-year project to revamp the market hall – formerly known as Central Market – was completed in May last year at a cost of almost £8m.
The market has been criticised for having vacant units, but a number of stall-holders said they were doing well and had high hopes for the future.
City of Lincoln Council said it was working with businesses and planning a number of events in the coming months to boost footfall.
Linsay Rouston-Turner, who runs the Corner Farm Kitchen stall, said the business was doing "really well".
She told the BBC that although footfall had been a bit down during the winter months that was to be expected.
However, she said she was optimistic about the future, with stall-holders working with the council on an events calendar to boost trade.
"It would have been nice to have had that back in May, but it's all coming together nicely," she added.
Reeya Shresha, who runs a food stall selling Nepalese dumplings, said: "Right now, business is good – some stalls are empty, but we are getting by."
However, she said in her view more could be done to promote the market as some people she had spoken to did not know it was there.
"Even though some people have lived here for a long time, they don't know it exists," she said.
Isabel Morris, from La Bella Di Casa, a traditional Italian ice cream company which makes its produce in the city, said she was optimistic.
"We have been here since the opening day and it had been going great for us.
"Obviously, it's up and it's down – as is any retail – but we got off to a flying start and gained loyal customers," she added.
Some have previously criticised the council over the number of vacant units at the market.
However, Ms Morris said some of the stall-holders that had left had gone on to "bigger things", or left for other reasons, such as a change in personal circumstances.
"Things like this happen everywhere," she added.
Rocky Salisbury, from Earthly Creations, told the BBC he had been in the market since it reopened last May, and had recently expanded to having two stalls.
"Footfall has been an issue over the period we've been here, but it's certainly got a lot better and we are working with the council to improve things," he said.
"It is still relatively new, and it is a change to the old market – this is much more vibrant – and for some people that wasn't what they expected, but it was never meant to be a traditional old market.
"The market is very much alive – I'm optimistic that in six months' time this place will be buzzing."
Work to refurbish the former Central Market was paid for by a £5.9m government programme and £1.9m of city council funding. Some additional funding from Historic England also contributed to the regeneration works.
Liberal Democrat councillor James Brown previously told a meeting that he wanted the market to succeed, but said "all this public money invested has led to an embarrassing flop".
Councillor Joshua Wells, the portfolio holder for economic growth at the Labour-led authority, rejected the criticism.
"We've been really keen to bring something new to the Cornhill this time and we are still working on that, but I think we are getting to where we need to be with it," he said.
The council conducted a review after six months to see what was working and what could be improved.
An events programme to boost footfall in the market and the wider Cornhill area was due to be announced soon, he said.
Commenting on the number of empty stalls, Wells added that the market was currently running at a 68% occupancy rate, which he said was slightly below the national average.
However, he said there was "a long list" of traders interested in coming in, but this needed to be balanced against the type of stalls that were already there.
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