Lancaster market has had a reprieve after the Full Council budget meeting voted to look into ways to reduce the financial losses whilst keeping an indoor market in the city . This followed a campaign by market traders and residents supported by the local Green Party to save the market.
Earlier in February Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem and Independents councillors had voted to close the market and bring in a discount supermarket, with only the two Green Party cabinet members voting to keep the market open.
John O’Gaunt Green Party candidate Ian Chamberlain said: “This is excellent news.. Green councillors have always supported the market and I am sure they will be working hard to make sure that there is a viable plan for it’s future success .”
The Council is currently tied into a 99 year lease after it sold the original market site in the 1990s . One plan suggested by the traders is to put all of the stalls onto the top floor and to let the bottom floor to a single trader. Proposals on the future of the market will be considered by the council at a special meeting to be held before the end of March.