Apology wanted over Christmas Eve market decision

Traders at Stoke Market, Stoke-on-Trent, will not be allowed to open on Christmas Eve

Stoke-on-Trent City Council should apologise for not letting market traders open on Christmas Eve, a councillor has said.

Councillor Faisal Hussain claimed that the authority had promised Stoke Market traders that they could open on 24 December.

But the decision was made to close all of the city's indoor markets on the day.

The authority said most market traders did not want to open on the Sunday before Christmas.

Speaking at Thursday’s full council meeting, Mr Hussain said the traders had voted to open on Christmas Eve in a ballot organised by the council.

“The traders told me the council promised the result of their ballot would be upheld, only to find out that the decision was taken to close them anyway,” the Conservative member said.

“It is now too late for the traders to advertise to open on Christmas Eve, even if the administration U-turned.”

He went on to demand an apology from the authority.

Deputy leader councillor Amjid Wazir claimed the majority of traders across the city did not want to open.

He said those operating at Longton, Stoke-on-Trent and Tunstall markets were offered an additional opening day on 21 December.

The last trading day for the city’s indoor markets before Christmas will be 23 December and Mr Wazir said the full festive season’s opening days, along with some “exciting” events, would be announced soon.

“That’s the reason we are closing on Christmas Eve, which is on a Sunday – normally a non-working day. They can open on Thursday instead and they can carry on as usual,” he added

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.