Mayor's promise amid concern over market future

The mayor said he would make a decision on the future of the market after the general election

Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has promised to carefully consider concerns over a proposed rethink of plans to revamp the city's market.

A £7.5m project to renovate Market Place was paused last month and put under review.

The market's stalls and 1990s-built roof have been pulled down and some traders have said they are angry they might now be permanently relocated to a new site.

Sir Peter has proposed not replacing the stalls and leaving the area clear as a space which could host events.

Traders have said the proposed new site for their stalls, in Cank Street, is too small

The city council said it had received 139 responses during an informal consultation period on the revised proposal.

Stall holders had been temporarily relocated to Green Dragon Square, at the rear of the Corn Exchange building, while the market renovation was carried out.

The council suggested they could be permanently moved to a new purpose-built location in Cank Street, near the Food Hall.

However, some told the BBC the proposed site was impractical, too small and peripheral to Market Place.

"I will carefully consider all of [the consultation responses] before setting out what I am minded to do," Sir Peter said.

"I understand people have very strong views on this.

"There a number of options. The temporary market in Green Dragon Square could stay there but made permanent and to a good standard.

"There is more space in Cank Street, using a car park at the back of the existing empty shops which we could demolish.

"Pop up stalls, which could be set up on Market Place and cleared away, are an option."

The existing plan for a new market has been put on hold

Sir Peter said whatever decision was made the cost would be "broadly" the same as the paused scheme which included new stalls under a thinner and higher roof.

He added: "Although people, quite understandably, want to see the market remain in the place where it has been for the last several hundred years, quite a lot of people have noted the covered market has only been there a few decades.

"Now the site is clear you can see the potential to create a fantastic space."

Sir Peter said he would set out the scheme's next steps after the general election on 4 July, when there would be a further formal consultation period.

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.