Leeds Outside Market

The Tory/Lib Dem administration of Leeds City Council are in the process of consulting about our outside Market. They want to get rid of the outside section of the Market completely and have another covered section. Stall and shop holders have said that the Outside Market has been allowed to become 'run down' while rents have increased. Rumours abound that rents are being increased to deter Stall holders from taking Stalls and that Stalls are being left empty rather than being re-let. If this is true it is a way of forcing Traders out of the Market. If the Outside Market is run down it becomes easier for those in power to argue that it should be done away with completely.

Leeds Market is unique nationally. There is nothing like it anywhere else. The beauty of the outside market is that it caters for everyone and not just those with lots of money to spend. A recent survey showed that the majority of people in England would prefer to have individualised Town Centres rather than homogenised Town Centres. Leeds has become more and more sanitised and is in danger of losing the character and history that has made our City so different from other Cities. There are plenty of 'up market' places to shop in Leeds, but there is nothing like the back of the Market. It is cheap and cheerful and Stalls here provide goods that cannot be obtained elsewhere in Town. It has a good atmosphere and helps to keep the past alive.

The land that the Market is on was once the Vicar's Croft and was given to the people of Leeds. The powers that be in Leeds seem determined to ensure our Town Centre is a choice of the Chain Stores - but with nothing different. They also seem determined to price the Town Centre out of the pockets of ordinary people and cater instead for the wealthier.

Leeds Corn Exchange

Individual Craftspeople, it has been said, have been turfed unceremoniously out of the Corn Exchange so that Zurich Assurance (who lease the Corn Exchange) can change it into a 'Food Emporium'.

The Corn Exchange had Traders who sold individual items that could not be purchased elsewhere in Leeds Town Centre. Items tended to be 'alternative' and often inexpensive giving our City an individual feel. Jewellery, oils, accessories, make-up, pictures and clothes could be bought. Although a few Traders remain (thankfully) - it is not the same.

A Food Emporium sounds like another attempt to attract the wealthy with no regard to the spending power, wants and needs of the ordinary people of Leeds. We have enough restaurants in Leeds and as for food - this can be purchased from other shops. I cannot think of a greater waste than using this fine historic old building to sell kitchen gadgets. There are plenty of places in Leeds selling kitchen gadgets.

This is another nail in the coffin for Leeds Town Centre. The Corn Exchange was also used as a meeting place for teenagers. The teenagers who congregated there did not cause any trouble - according to Security Guards - and could shop there without needing pots of money.