Stalls still open at Victoria Market on 'final' day as traders refuse to go

AROUND a dozen market traders at say they will continue to keep their businesses open despite a city council closure deadline passing yesterday.

- GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

"We're not going anywhere," says Stephen Taylor, who sells general hardware at Aladdin's Cave in the Victoria Centre Market.

"We've got £60,000-worth of stock here we had £3,000-worth delivered last week. I've paid my rent until the end of the month and nobody now knows where they stand.

"There's no attempt from many of us to move out - I've got 47 years left on my lease so they can't evict me."

Stephen is the third generation of his family to run the business, which has been in the market since 1972.

He added that, throughout the entire closure process, he and other traders have had little contact from Nottingham City Council besides a ten-minute meeting which he claims took place in the store last year.

Suzanne Anderson runs Gemini Jewellers and says she will also remain at the market for the foreseeable future.

"We don't know what we're going to do we were offered £15,000 to leave, but we don't want to leave in the first place," she said.

"We can't find a small enough shop to move to and I don't drive.

"This market could be thriving and could be so busy - people come from very far. But this is all about money for the council."