Displaced market traders are relocated

The new owners of the Square, together with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council have worked to ensure the displaced traders could be accommodated in the Smithfield car park section of the weekly market.

Lisburn Square said they were pleased that the market traders had been found a new home by the Council.

Nicky McCollum said: “Having engaged with Lisburn Council, we are pleased that they have been able to relocate the market traders to a location in the adjacent carpark.

“We will continue to provide a service to the traders in the form of the delivery and collection of the stalls each Tuesday to and from their new home within the carpark.

“This relocation allows us to push ahead with the Enhancement Programme at Lisburn Square, compliant with Health and Safety legislation, to ensure we are ready to market Lisburn Square to new tenants as quickly as possible.

“Our commitment to make Lisburn Square a positive driver for economic success within Lisburn and the surrounding area is paramount.

“We would like to thank the council for their help in resolving the issue so quickly and thank the market traders for their patience.”

Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Economic Development Committee, this week confirmed that the council had made arrangements to facilitate those market traders who have been temporarily displaced from Lisburn Square due to renovation and upgrading work scheduled to take place.

“Since we were notified by traders last week of Lisburn Square’s decision taken to suspend the market temporarily, elected members and council officers have been working to try and find an alternative for these market stall holders and the potential to include them within the Smithfield Square area of the Market.

“Following discussions with Lisburn Square Management we are very pleased that we can temporarily accommodate all of the market in Smithfield Square with the least possible disruption to traders and customers alike until the renovations are complete and the Market can return to Lisburn Square.”

Lagan Valley MLA Edwin Poots has welcomed the accommodation of Lisburn Market traders who use Lisburn Square adjacent to the existing market traders. “On the back of letters being issued to traders last Tuesday that they couldn’t trade in the Square for 10-14 weeks as improvement work was commencing, I was contacted on Tuesday evening. We contacted Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council on Wednesday and by Thursday evening an accommodation was identified. I commend Suzanne Lutton and the council team who responded quickly and with a lot of common sense to resolve the issue.

“The Market was buzzing on Tuesday in glorious sunshine with many visitors from further afield as well as locals enjoying the atmosphere. Traders and consumers alike are delighted that the Market is going strong and the Council are working to accommodate them.”

Mr Poots said that “it was important as we look to the future we identify how best we can maintain and support the Market. Lisburn has still one of the larger markets in Northern Ireland and brings many people and their business to the area. It is important that we sustain and promote it. I also welcome the improvements being carried out at Lisburn Square, it is good to see investment going into the area after many years of non investment and any initiative to make the area vibrant once again can only be good for the City.”

The new arrangements will be in operation immediately and the Council has been in contact with stall holders to advise of the new temporary arrangements.