Customers offer their views on Lancashire trader's behaviour as new code of conduct set to come in

Clitheroe Market is often described as one of the town’s key attractions but the market has been the focus of debate over themes including recent upgrades, the impact on business and whether stone setts relocated from its bull ring area are historically important.

Some stallholders have worked there for decades and are part of long-established family businesses, whilst others are newer or single traders, and customers come from all over Clitheroe, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire.

Written rules to control the behaviour of Clitheroe Market traders are ‘long overdue’, Ribble Valley councillors were told as they backed a new code of conduct and disciplinary process at a meeting this week.

The proposed new code of conduct has prompted different opiniOns from the council, customers and traders.

What have customers said?

Clitheroe resident Greg Fish said: “We come here regularly. I don’t think they need a code of conduct. Are they going to have market police? The toilets got smashed up at one point but I’ve never seen any incidents between traders. Maybe they should get traders to wrestle in the bull ring, to sort out any disagreements.

“The traders are OK. We like Clitheroe Market. We used to go to Darwen’s market but it seemed to run down over the years. At Clitheroe, we go to stalls including the butcher’s, Alan. It’d be good to get some more traders. There are new stalls in the bull ring area and it’d be nice to see them filled.

Matthew Taylforth, aged 19, said: “Whenever I come to the market, it’s a nice place. There’s a bit of a buzz. I was a regular here when I was at Clitheroe Grammar Sixth Form. Now I’m working and still come here.

“If there’s any swearing, I think that’s just what some traders can be like. If they’ve been working for 40 years, with early morning starts, then maybe some get a bit crabby? I don’t think there’s a problem but people will have different views.

“I like Clitheroe Market. It’s a good place with good stalls. I’ve been to the Christmas markets in Manchester but they’re too busy and over-commercialised.”

Karen Noakes, visiting from Bolton, said: “I like Clitheroe Market and I’m glad there are more stalls now. The guys working here are always very nice. There doesn’t seem to be any randomers, or shouting or swearing.

“I like how the market is set out. I think some traders might have been a bit possessive about their spots or locations, and perhaps that’s what the council was coming up against? But I haven’t seen any aggro.”

Jean Smith, from Clitheroe, said: “I love the market. I think the stallholders are friendly and helpful. There’s a nice atmosphere. I’d really miss the market if it wasn’t here. I get fruit, veg and cooked meats. I tend to visit the food stalls. I know there’s been a few things said about market changes in the last year or so. But I have positive feelings about it.”

June Eaton, a retired Chatburn mill worker, said: “I like Clitheroe Market but I heard an argument from one stall-holder, who was effing-and-blinding. There was another occasion with swearing. I think one trader had an attitude and was swearing, if things didn’t go how they wanted. But another trader left, I think.

“But running a market stall is hard work. And traders have their gas, electricity and insurance costs. So I think traders should get free car parking space.”

Pat Bridges, a former Calderstones Hospital worker, said: “We want the market to stay. A few years ago, there was talk about getting rid of it. There were ideas about building a hotel or supermarket. But there was a petition to keep the market. People like an outdoor market, somewhere to meet, have a cuppa and a smoke, if you can. That wouldn’t be allowed indoors.”

What traders have said?

Tahir Amin, who has run the Asian Street Food stall for nine years, said: “Traders have a quarterly meeting with Ribble Valley Council and Nicola Hopkins, the economic director. The code of conduct has been brought-up at meetings. The council said they need policies for various reasons and everybody at the meetings seemed quite happy.

“Personally, I’ve had no issues with any other traders. And I was not aware of anyone falling-out with contractors doing the market upgrade. I thought the contractors were pretty good, to be fair. They tried to work with everybody.

“The market is a good place. We just need a few more traders and foot-fall. I’ve seen it evolve over the past nine years. The covid pandemic brought a big rise on outdoor shopping, food and drink activity and support for local businesses. Clitheroe has an older population but also a lot of new housing with younger families. So customers, habits and trends keep evolving. All these influence the market and the town centre.

“At Clitheroe Market, I think the displays of produce and stall presentation is better now. That’s a big positive change. New traders bring new ideas, and others can see that too. Change can be good.”

What has the council said?

Outlining the recommended code and displinary proceedure at the last council meeting, Andrew Dent, the council’s environmental health chief, said: “We hope you will approve these. The market is seen as a jewel in the town. Generally, traders there are cordial. However, sometimes there has been a tendency to deviate from this.

“We have some conditions already in place but there’s nothing about behaviour. So the purpose here is to set best behaviour for traders, to treat each other with respect, for no foul language or discrimination.

“Currently, if we issue a verbal warning, we have no process to follow. We know that and the traders know that. But if we get a proper system, it will support us all and the market supervisor.

“We can impose sanctions if someone continues to misbehave. I think this is pretty straight forward and I hope councillors approve it.”

Lib-Dem Coun Mary Robinson said: “I agree with this 100 per cent. But I have one question – can we not move faster with this? I saw a dispute way-back and it was not nice. Disputes are rare but when I saw that one, it was not good.”

Conservative Coun Rosemary Elms said: “I welcome this code of conduct too. It’s long overdue, to be honest. I fully support this.”