Preston market boss calls on shoppers to ditch supermarkets

11:46am Thursday 15th May 2008

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Preston's market boss has urged locals to ditch the supermarkets in a bid to save the city's market.

The market has seen a decline in traders and has the largest number of stalls empty for more than five years.

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Of the 135 stalls in the purpose built indoor market hall, 20 stand empty.

The manager of the Preston Markets has blamed the fall in traders on the state of the economy and people choosing to shop at large supermarkets rather than opt for local produce.

Dave Bullock, who has been manager at the market which opened in 1972, for eight years, said: "Markets have got a battle on their hands and find it difficult to attract traders because supermarkets have so much clout and make it extremely difficult to compete."

He urged Prestonians to support local traders aadding, "If the market is to survive we need people to break the habit of using the big shops for convenience and buy locally because they can make huge savings and support local traders at the same time."

But Andrew Wisdom, of butchers J and E Wisdom and Sons, in the lower market hall, blamed the decline on the Tithebarn regeneration project.

Mr Wisdom, whose family business has been in the market since it opened, added: "There is so much uncertainty about the Tithebarn project and people don't want to spend money on a stall which could only be around for a few years."

The £750m Tithebarn Project includes plans to revive the city's markets with a three-part plan featuring an improved indoor market, more regular farmers' markets and a new-look street market.

Work is not expected to be completed until 2014.

A council spokesman said: "We have appointed specialist consultants to work with the market traders to develop proposals for the new market.

"It is hoped that once details become clearer, that traders will be excited by the future plans and want to get involved at an early stage."