Anger at Lewes District Council over market location decision

Angry business owners in Lewes say the decision to move the town’s farmers market from Cliffe precinct to Friars Walk car park is ruining their trade.

Lewes District Council decided to relocate the market, which is held on two Saturdays of the month, during the pandemic to allow for social distancing, however it has not been returned to the precinct, which businesses have branded “ridiculous”.

Nine businesses in the town’s Riverside building have slammed the council’s handling of the issue and urged the local authority to move the market back.

The traders say business drops on the two Saturdays the market is held (Image: The Argus/Andrew Gardner)

When asked by The Argus, Lewes District Council did not say why the market has not been returned to the precinct but said it was working with traders to find “the best long-term solution for everyone”.

Celia Schultz, who own’s Poppy’s Chocolates, expressed her frustration at the council and criticised its lack of communication.

“Our customers and the farmers market customers have nowhere to park,” she said.

“To try and find another car park is a nightmare.

“We are in no way against the market, it is great for the town.

“The market has been in the precinct for many years, it moved to the car park for social distancing reasons, which we totally understood, but now there seems no logical reason why it can’t go back.

“It is noticeable that our trade drops on the Saturdays when there’s a market.

“Our regular customers say they don’t bother coming in on market days because they can’t park.

“I had a meeting with the council in October and here we are still no further forward.

“They take weeks and weeks to respond to letters.

“We’re very disappointed in the council.”

The parking problem could soon be exacerbated with plans to install electric vehicle charging points and a Changing Places toilet in the car park.

Get more stories delivered to your inbox every day by signing up to our morning newsletter

Celia Schultz (Image: The Argus/Andrew Gardner)

Saira Foden, who runs The-Stitchery, said: “There’s probably only ten places left.

“They’re about to use six of those for electric vehicle charging points and there’s going to be a Changing Places facility.

“They’re all admirable things to attract people to the town but that’s taking nine spaces away from the car park.”

The businesswoman said the group has been “stonewalled” by the council.

“We’ve been writing to them for eight months,” she said.

“Every single one of us wrote a letter, because their last letter to us was ‘tell us how this affects your business’.

“We individually wrote and explained two weeks ago, and we’ve not had a single answer.”

Boysie Sand, owner of ESPY tattoo studio, said the issue was affecting shops throughout the town.

“I’ve got some people in for the full day, so they’ve got to travel and have a guarantee that there’s some sort of parking,” he said.

“And that’s the busiest day of the week, they don’t know this area and it’s trying to direct them to somewhere they can park.

“There isn’t anywhere so I get late customers and no shows. It’s massively affecting us.

“You ask any shop on the high street and they’re drowning.”

A council spokesman said: “We have met with market representatives and continue to liaise with them and traders to find the best long-term solution for everyone.”

Subscribe to gain unlimited access to The Argus website and read all the biggest and best stories from across Brighton and Sussex