The organiser of a Christmas market in Arnold has sought to quash a concern that food stalls could conflict with regular business owners in the town centre.
A Christmas market is planned outside The AMP, which opened in 2022 and replaced the old Arnold Market site, towards the end of November and into December.
Organiser Natalee Onyeche has been seeking street trading consent for the market from Gedling Borough Council.
The consent would allow the market to operate on Friday, November 21 from 10am until 7.30pm, and then every Saturday from November 29 until December 20, between the hours of 9am and 3pm.
However at an environment and licensing committee meeting on Tuesday (November 4) a councillor said he was worried food stalls at the market may negatively impact existing businesses in area.
Cllr Martin Smith (Con), a member of the committee, said: “I’m all in favour of the market in principle. But I’m just looking under the description of goods being traded; a variety of traders selling food – and that is the bit that concerns me somewhat.
“We have already got permanent shops in that vicinity selling food and drink and I am concerned this market will conflict with what those people who are there, seven days a week, actually sell.
“I am aware there is another market this lady has organised where there has been a conflict, which may well have been resolved now. But I am concerned about those regular traders. But everything else I am very much in favour of.”
A council officer said five food stalls are currently confirmed for the temporary market, including a chocolate stall, a crepe stall, and a Jamaican food and Indian food stall.
Natalee Onyeche, the organiser, spoke to say the food stalls offered items that were generally not readily available in the area.
“Generally it is a nice mix of food that is not readily available,” she said.
“In the other markets there have always been food and cake stalls, and it has been running for two years now. I haven’t personally had complaints about those.”
Changes were made back in 2012 to allow temporary permission to be granted for street trading in the area, which aimed to give the council better control over what activities and goods were traded to protect existing businesses and market traders now based at Eagle Square.
The streets outside The AMP were changed from a ‘prohibited street’ to a ‘consent street’ as a result.
“This has allowed for Arnold town centre to have craft fairs and a Christmas market over the last few years whilst protecting the interests of the Arnold Market traders,” the council added.
Members of the committee voted to grant the market trading consent, meaning the Christmas market will now go ahead as planned.Concern Arnold Christmas market could ‘conflict’ with regular traders
