Calls have been made to “pause” a decision to close Borehamwood Market so that a consultation can be held with residents.
Last week, Hertsmere Borough Council announced the town centre market will be closing in August.
The council says the twice-weekly market has seen a “significant reduction” in demand and footfall and blamed shopping habits, with more people buying online.
Read more: Borehamwood market to close for good later this summer
However, Elstree & Borehamwood town councillors say they are “deeply concerned” by the borough council’s decision.
And at a meeting on Wednesday (June 15) evening, a cross-party motion put forward by Labour member Jeremy Newmark and Conservative member Sandra Parnell calling for the decision to be “paused” and for a consultation to be held with people living in Borehamwood was unanimously passed.
The council has now admitted only “informal discussions” were held with residents about closing the market after initially claiming they, along with stallholders and shopkeepers, had been consulted.
The motion adds “serious efforts” are needed to “reinvigorate” this part of Shenley Road and says a “vibrant, modern, and properly managed” market is “critical” to achieving this.
Labour’s Cllr Newmark has accused the Tory-run council on social media of “running the market into the ground”.
The senior member for the economy in Hertsmere, Cllr Caroline Clapper, who has led on the market closure decision, responded by saying the council does intend to create a new market in the town.
She added in a Facebook post: “It will most likely be at a different location within the town, and will be designed to actually attract more people into the town, so as to enhance our environment, high street and local economy.”
The council says a survey carried out with shopkeepers and market stallholders concluded 86 per cent of respondents were “dissatisfied” with the current market.
Cllr Clapper continued: “It is a fact that the current market brings zero additional footfall to Borehamwood on market days. The vast majority agree that the current market is messy-looking, tired and long out-dated.
“The council is now working on new, creative ideas to bring an alternative, modern, buzzy and successful new market to Borehamwood, and it will be fully engaging with residents and stakeholders as these ideas progress.”
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