'Trying to push us out!' Cambridge market traders fear 'death of tradition' as Labour council revamps historic spot

Under the proposals, most traders would be forced to use temporary gazebos instead of permanent structures.

The plans are part of a wider Civic Quarter project announced in 2024 which aims to transform the historic market area.

Traders believe the changes threaten the traditional character of Cambridge Market, which has been a cornerstone of the city for generations.

Chris from Grace's Accessories told GB News: "We know it's not very busy, but we think we need more than what they're proposing.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Locals fuming as plans for 24-hour casino in seaside town centre causes outrage: 'This is NOT Las Vegas!'
• Wethersfield local HORRIFIED at migrant takeover as asylum seekers ‘could soon outnumber’ village residents
• 'It's disgusting!' Britons take aim at rail companies as fares rise by almost FIVE per cent: 'Very disappointing'

"Temporary stalls, I don't think they'll be strong enough and they won't last in the high winds and heavy rain."

Tom, who works at a stall selling crystals told GB News: "Like we have seen in Norwich recently, they want to create an Italian piazza. Cambridge has a rich history.

"Then you've got these Londoners coming along with their bright new ideas about renovations. That is what has happened in Cambridge as a whole.

"They wanted to make it some kind of big tech metropolis, push out the old tradition, bringing these tech kind of Tesla drivers, and make that part of the markets centrepiece. They want to make the whole Cambridge city centre pedestrianised."

He added: "This is a traditional market, and it will be the death of the old market. At the very least, a lot of us will leave if they do what they're going to do and take away all these stalls.

"There's 100 stalls here now they want to put in 27. The rest of us are going to go in these little pop up gazebos. It just won't work. My stock weighs probably two or three hundred kilos."

A third trader who runs an art stall said: "I'm not really sure what the motivation of the council is. I think they're presenting an image that they want to retain a seven day market. But the plans don't seem to reflect that. They don't seem to have a clear strategy. It doesn't seem as transparent a process as they've presented in the past."

Chris Carter, who trades at Carter's Greengrocers said: "The point is, they don't support us. This is why this has happened. The tourists support us, the students support us, the people who migrate from Europe support us. It's local Cambridge people giving up supporting us."

Council officials hope these changes will create a focal point in Cambridge city centre. Their stated aim is to attract more residents and visitors to spend time in Market Square.

The proposals include resurfacing the area to improve accessibility and installing a lightweight canopy over the reduced number of permanent stalls. An additional 64 demountable stalls would be available for "additional trading" during weekends and busier months.

While the total project carries an estimated price tag of £12.6 million, the council has only proposed investing £3 million to resurface the market at this stage.

Cllr Rosy Moore, Executive Councillor for Climate Action and Environment, told GB News: "It is clear that work needs to be done to improve the market's accessibility, waste management and safety of the space for traders, visitors and residents.

"All discussions so far have been based on the widely-shared view in Cambridge that the market should continue to be a permanent, thriving, seven-day market. They have also been based on a shared view that the market will continue to serve as the primary function of the square as it has done for generations.

"We are engaged in an ongoing, constructive dialogue with market traders about the proposals for the square, as they continue to evolve. That has included five dedicated meetings already, with an additional eight more scheduled ahead of a planning application being submitted.

"This work is being carried out with the support of a markets expert and our markets manager. We will also be engaging with the wider public on a set of proposals that have been influenced by the feedback we have received to date.

“Whilst bringing forward proposals that achieve this, we are also seeking to address the security concerns that have been raised about the current configuration of the market, and build some flexibility for civic and public events, as supported in the public consultation.

"We know residents support more flexible use of the space so, on quieter days when there isn’t such a demand for stalls, we may not need to have all of the demountable stalls in use. The demountable stalls will allow flexibility to expand and contract depending on demand for stalls, similar to other markets across the UK and Europe.

“We will continue to engage with market traders and the wider community throughout the process, to identify new stalls that would be suitable for traders’ requirements and sturdy enough for all weather conditions, and to design an approach to contracting and expanding the market depending on demand from traders. There will be more opportunities to feedback ahead of a planning application being submitted."