Leicester City Council defends £600,000 market revamp

Leicester City Council has defended its decision to spend £600,000 redeveloping part of the city's market, after complaints from stall holders.

Traders said they were unhappy that part of the indoor market's roof was removed to accommodate 20 gazebo-style food stalls, which were mostly empty.

The Market Corner opened in May with plans for international food sellers to operate on Fridays and Saturdays.

The city council said the market had "great potential".

Market trader Kate Chamberlain called for more support for the market.

Sole trader

"It's silliness really, they could have just kept the roof on the old market and done what they liked underneath," she said.

"There is only one person here today.

"We've wrote letters to them, but they haven't listened - people used to make arrangements to meet under the roof because they had protection from the rain, they haven't got that now."

The city's deputy mayor, Rory Palmer, said: "I accept that in terms of the market trading activity it has been difficult, but we believe there is great potential and we are determined to deliver on that potential.

"The Market Corner has been open less than five months and ... over that time the city centre and the economy have gone through very challenging times.

"Our objectives were to provide a space that is flexible and can be used in different ways for entertainment and cultural activities - it's a fantastic civic space in its own right."