By Don Mort, local democracy reporter, and Michael Broomhead
A West Leeds market is no longer financially viable due to a decline in the number of customers and stallholders, the city council has said.
A consultation will be launched next month on the future of Pudsey Market as views are sought on how to boost trade.
Leeds City Council said it wanted to make the market sustainable in the long term after being faced with rising costs and low stall rents.
Many stalls were empty in Pudsey’s market place this week.
Shan Ajaib, who runs the Simply Delish stall, said: “There are stallholders interested but when they see that no customers are coming they don’t think it’s worthwhile.
“On the opposite side you’ve got customers who come and have a look, don’t see a great deal on offer and don’t bother.”
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WLD ran an editorial about the future of the market earlier this month, following a Facebook post which attracted more than 300 responses. Ideas to revitalise the market included introducing a night market, providing a roof and the need for more promotion.
Concerns were raised over the lack of long-stay parking in Pudsey, work needed to paint and repair the stalls, some ‘exciting individual/specialised food/drink traders’, a wider variety of traders, introducing fixed, permanent chalet type stalls around the edges and tackling vandalism.
Pudsey Conservative councillor Simon Seary urged people to have their say on the outdoor market’s long-term future.
He said: “It’s disappointing to see. This is a Tuesday market and we’ve probably got five or six stalls.
“Back in its heyday, it was full. But over time we have lost a number of stallholders.”
Leeds City Council said traders, ward councillors and market shoppers would be consulted during July.
A spokesperson said: “Pudsey Market, like many outdoor markets across the country, has seen a decline for several years in terms of traders and customers attending.
“Together with low stall rents and increasing operating costs, this means the market is not financially viable as it currently stands.”
Pudsey Market is currently open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
Details of how to take part in the consultation are yet to be released.
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Once again resident’s of pudsey know that the decision has already(probably)been made (as with the visitor centre, greenhouse,and townhall.To run it down and put a car park in place to service outside investors intrests and not the council tax payers of pudsey.Anyone putting their name to the closure of the market and not reinvestment to serve the people of pudsey should be ashamed.
I have to say that Simply Delish is great and they should consider looking at one of the many empty properties in Pudsey and set up a proper restaurant (before we get another vape shop or charity shop!).
How about we take the stalls out and have food trucks and tables Friday – Sunday?