‘What has happened?’ sob baffled shoppers as much-loved city market announces shock closures after more than 50 years

A CITY market in Nottingham is set to close next summer after serving for more than 50 years.

The city council announced that the Victoria Centre market will shut down its business after falling customer numbers and increasing costs made it difficult to survive.

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Last year, the authority announced it intended to exit the current lease due to increasing costs and subsidies required to operate it into the future.

Stallholders were left waiting for the past 12 months waiting for a confirmation.

However, they were given the news at a meeting on Monday evening.

After the closure announcement, the council revealed that the existing traders and stall owners could stay until next summer, but no news hops would be allowed to open.

Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, a member of Nottingham City Council, said: “We understand how difficult the past year has been for stallholders and are sorry that it has taken so long to provide more clarity on the situation.

“Budgetary factors and internal discussions have undoubtedly delayed the decision-making process, and we would have liked to be able to update traders before now.

“The popular venue but sadly it has been under-used for years. There is an ever-decreasing number of loyal customers who retain great affection for it, but, more widely, people’s shopping habits have changed.

“This is a national trend, not unique to Nottingham, and the effect of the pandemic has been significant in that.

“Our officers will continue to work closely with the existing stallholders over the coming months to offer help and support ahead of its closure.”

The authority added there was a six-fold increase in service charges placed on the market in 2015 and that it was “badly affected” by the Covid pandemic.

Shoppers were left baffled after discovering thr news of the popular market’s closure next summer.

One such person wrote on Facebook: “What a shame, I’ve loved the market for many years and seen many changes, I will miss not only the mkt but all the staff too.

“I wish everyone all the best for the future.”

Another said: “More casualties of Nottingham city council…used to be a fantastic buzzing market.”

A third person expressed: “I remember that market was full of different stalls and etc like fresh fruit and veg stalls meat stalls fish stalls cafes photos stalls gold stalls music stalls clothes stalls sweety stalls dog stalls hair stalls nut stall ice cream stall key stall food stall card stall flowers stalls it was so good.”

Victoria Market has been operating from its current site since 1971 – and is one of the major places to shop in the city.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk