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Brighton's West Pier market traders search for new home as i360 work set to begin (From The Argus)
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Brighton's West Pier market traders search for new home as i360 work set to begin
1:50pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Market traders are to be helped to find a new site when they are pushed out for a new £38 million seafront attraction.
Hundreds of thousands of people have visited the West Pier Market, near Brighton beach, since it launched in 1996. However, traders have been told they will have to move as developers prepare for construction of the i360 observation tower.
More than 7,800 people signed a petition asking Brighton and Hove City Council to find stallholders an alternative place on the seafront to sell their wares.
Peter Fijalkowski, of the West Pier Traders Association, said: “The market has been very popular both for tourists and locals alike as is evidenced by the number who signed the petition.
“Up until now we have been paying the West Pier Trust rent but we have been told this will not be possible when building work starts.
“We have begun talks with the council and we’re very grateful for them helping us forward but there’s uncertainty and where there’s uncertainty, there’s anxiety.
“We’re calling for a commitment into the future to help preserve [the market] as an integral part of the seafront experience.
“It would be very sad if the i360, although great for regenerating the area, meant that the people who have made their living for years to lose their livelihoods.”
The petition received unanimous backing from all councillors during a town hall meeting held last week.
Geoffrey Bowden, chairman of the council’s economic development and culture committee, said: “While the council is fully aware of the situation and certainly sympathise with traders following this impending eviction by the West Pier Trust, this problem is certainly not of the council’s making.
“While traders should be aware that permission for the market was only ever temporary, the council is looking to help in terms of finding a short-term location during the i360 construction.
“Any proposals for a permanent market will be explored as part of the wider seafront strategy. The council is not yet in position to make decision for permanent solution but certainly striving to find one.”
Coun Bowden added that the local authority must look at demand, current uses, available sites and competing businesses when drawing up any proposal.
The Argus contacted the West Pier Trust but had received no response at the time of going to press. Work on the i360 site is expected to begin shortly with the attraction potentially open by March 2015.
Comments(19)
Gary Manilow
says...
1:59pm Wed 31 Oct 12
de was given over to a company hiring out segways which appeared to be used by nobody.
Lady Smith
says...
2:03pm Wed 31 Oct 12
Hove Actually
says...
2:22pm Wed 31 Oct 12
spa301
says...
2:52pm Wed 31 Oct 12
As I've walked along that stretch on innumerable occasions does that mean that I'm included as one of the visitor numbers, or more accurately just a passer by?
Cash Bull
says...
2:55pm Wed 31 Oct 12
Number Six
says...
3:12pm Wed 31 Oct 12
Number Six
says...
3:12pm Wed 31 Oct 12
Joshiman
says...
3:16pm Wed 31 Oct 12
Crystal Ball
says...
3:31pm Wed 31 Oct 12
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
4:30pm Wed 31 Oct 12
jamus77
says...
7:48pm Wed 31 Oct 12
chrisso
says...
4:00am Thu 1 Nov 12
John Steed
says...
5:29am Thu 1 Nov 12
chrisso wrote:nor the reconstruction of the west pier
Don't worry Jamus, it won't be completed in our lifetime.
Cash Bull
says...
7:50am Thu 1 Nov 12
Crystal Ball wrote:I do not know who 360 is but I think it is inappropriate for you to leave messages following your last encounter with him on this Message Board. USE KY JELLY!
360 iSore.
Cash Bull
says...
8:20am Thu 1 Nov 12
Number Six wrote:FREE TO A GOOD HOME!
Not just me then. I read the headline and thought "How do you market the homeless?"
Nosfaratu
says...
9:57am Thu 1 Nov 12
Lets hope that it will be pulled down like the Statue's to Lenin and Communism were, or remain a fading icon to inflated ego's and leftish bull**** .
Surely not!
says...
12:59pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Nosfaratu wrote:Seems the peoples apostrophe was stolen by the statue's! lets hope they go strait and return it to their rightful owner. As for the Random use of capital Letters...
So the Collosus representing the Marxist Regime that runs B&H Council is being built regardless of the peoples wishes and the poor financial straights that the City is in.
Lets hope that it will be pulled down like the Statue's to Lenin and Communism were, or remain a fading icon to inflated ego's and leftish bull**** .
Athena
says...
10:49am Tue 20 Nov 12
FC says...
1:52pm Wed 31 Oct 12