AT a centuries-old market that looks set to receive a multi-million pound revamp, there seems to be a feeling of apprehension and pessimism rather than positivity and optimism.
Despite boasting one of the oldest working markets in the country, it is accepted that there has been a slow decline in Earlestown town centre and St Helens Council successfully bid for £20m from the government's Levelling Up Fund in order to address this.
The council has also committed to a further £8m to support the regeneration project, which is planned to redevelop the town's market square, refurbish the town hall, and improve the town's railway station.
However, although Earlestown businesses have been crying out for investment in recent years, market traders are not convinced that the regeneration project will deliver the transformational change that developers say it will, with some having strong aversions to certain aspects of the plans.
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Trader's main concern? Vehicle access
On a relatively busy Friday morning - but nowhere near as busy as the market has been in years gone by, as traders tell me - the main issue raised was the parking and vehicle access under the new market plans.
At present, every trader has their vehicle next to their stall so they can quickly unload their products, re-stock if necessary, and quickly pack up at the end of the day. Some traders, such as the butchers and fishmongers, work inside their vans as they keep stock refrigerated.
However, under the council's detailed planning application that was submitted earlier this month, there are more restrictions regarding vehicle access as council planners believe there is a "lack of structure" as to how traders currently access and park in the square.
With a new all-weather canopy set to provide space for 60 traders, planning documents state how access will be "controlled through vehicle restraints including raised planters, seating blocks, street trees, built elements, fixed bollards, and manually removable bollards".
The plans suggest that there will also be space for 40 outdoor traders, with the vehicle restrictions intended to provide "greater opportunities for the square to feel and operate as a secure and flexible space".
Concrete seating blocks will also be installed to "avoid vehicle access to the market canopy", with the council believing that a lack of parking structure has prevented the market from operating as a "safe and inviting space".
The council says that it is "committed to making sure traders can easily park in the vicinity of the market", and is exploring options such as designated parking areas for stall-holders alongside facilities for disabled people.
However, it has not yet been confirmed where these potential parking areas may be.
'If they remove vehicle access, half the traders will go'
Dennis Lyon, who runs a pillow and quilt stall, has worked on Earlestown market for 29 years and is one of the square's traders who doesn't have a market cover.
In a sentiment shared by many traders in Earlestown, Dennis said: "If [the council] removes vehicle access, half the traders will go."
"I work out of my van, as do all the traders here, and I’m here to make money.
"I don't want to be running back and forth to my van all day to restock my products when I could be losing business, or I could have my products nicked or be at the mercy of the elements."
Many other traders raised the same issue, including Lynne Coultas, a Fleetwood fishmonger whose family business 'Syd's Fisheries' has been operating at Earlestown market for the past 50 years.
Lynne said: "Almost everybody works by themselves here so how can you keep a stall running if you're constantly going back to restock?
"If you ask any trader here, parking and vehicle access will be their biggest concern, and I know some traders who have left and others who are looking elsewhere because of this."
Like Lynne at Syd's Fisheries, Jade and Mark at A&R Meats also need their van to refrigerate their stock.
One of the busier stalls on the market, Mark suggested he will fight to ensure vehicle access is part of the plans as they "make too much money not to have [their van] here".
Jade suggested that they may need to go elsewhere if permanent vehicle access is not an option.
Market decline and 'limited communication'
Other concerns raised by traders include a perceived lack of communication with the council regarding the regeneration plans, as well as the current state of the market.
Bob and Mark Isherwood, a father and son whose family flower stall has been on Earlestown market for 100 years, said: "The market is fairly busy but it's nothing to what it once was.
"This used to be our flagship stall but now it's one of the most difficult stalls we travel to. The market isn't maintained well and it hasn't had any proper advertising for years.
"We both said that the vehicle and parking [restrictions] wouldn't work from the get-go, but [the council] hasn't listened. There is limited parking around the square now so where are all these traders going to park?"
As traditional markets have had to battle with the rise of supermarkets, online shopping, retail parks, and more recently the pandemic and cost of living crisis, it can be argued that it is inevitable that many traders have struggled and this isn't a case specific to Earlestown.
However, there are certain market areas quoted to be thriving, such as Bury and Chorley market, and some traders feel that there is a discrepancy in how these markets and Earlestown have been run.
Em and Kay Barlow, whose clothes stall has operated in Earlestown for the best part of 30 years, said: "We work at different market stalls, as other traders do, and it feels at many of these you are supported and the council works with you.
"Unfortunately, it feels like St Helens Council is working against you at times.
"We have very limited communication with them and receive a leaflet of the plans every now and again. I've worked here for 30 years so why wouldn't you come and ask me what I'd like to see?
"Half of the market coverings are falling to pieces and some don't have any at all. We have bought our own gazebo but we are provided one at other markets.
"We do work at some markets where there is no vehicle access, such as in Liverpool (Great Homer Street), so this could potentially work.
"But the business is so busy there that it makes up for it. We're also supported by the council and parking is around the corner so it isn't too bad."
Similarly, Valu Bentley, a Kiwi baker, said that he isn’t convinced about the council’s regeneration plans and added that he has also had limited communication about the future of the markets.
This reported lack of communication is something that was also raised by independent councillors in the area last month, who said they had hit a "wall of silence" after asking for updates and queries about the regeneration plans.
In response, the council said that ward members have been "briefed at every step of the process", although there are not always answers until key planning milestones are reached.
Some elements of the plans may not initially be released publicly if it is commercially sensitive, a spokesperson added.
The council also points to the series of consultations held in Newton and Earlestown last year as evidence of listening to public concerns, with more than 240 people said to have given feedback.
So, will the plans work?
Obviously, with £28m being invested in Earlestown and lots of hard work going on behind the scenes, the council and developers believe that the regeneration plans will "transform the area back into a thriving and bustling market town".
The council also aims to utilise the square as more than just a market space, with plans to install play areas, safe spaces to relax, and the potential to hold special events.
The feedback from the public consultations is also reported to have had 80% of people in favour of the proposed market canopy, with 73% of respondents believing that the plans would benefit the town.
68% said that they were likely to spend more time in Earlestown as a result.
However, after speaking to several market traders, there seems to be more apprehension than positivity, and more pessimism as opposed to optimism.
In addition to the vehicle and parking concerns, traders criticised the proposals to demolish the current public toilet building and move this off-site.
There was also criticism that the canopy is not planned to be installed along the Market Street side of the square, which some believe could attract more passing trade, as well as concerns about increasing market rates and what will happen to traders when construction of the canopy begins.
With Earlestown possessing such a historical market, all of the traders are in agreement that it is in dire need of investment if it is to survive.
However, the jury is still out as to whether these multi-million pound plans will be the answer that traders are looking for.
Statement from St Helens Council
In response to questions from the Star, a spokesperson for St Helens Council and ECF, said: “Our proposals will provide a better environment for traders and shoppers, helping to support and grow Earlestown’s historic market long into the future and encouraging more people to spend time in the town centre through the ability to host events all year round.
“There is currently a lack of structure to how traders access and park in the square, which does not help to create a safe and inviting space.
“The square will benefit from controlled vehicle access at its four corners, including secure bollards with ample loading space for market traders.
"We are committed to making sure traders can easily park in the vicinity of the market and we continue to consider a range of options for this, providing further updates as options progress.
"This could include designated areas for stall-holder parking and servicing alongside facilities for disabled persons, to create a safer and more vibrant Market Square.
“The Market Square’s current use for indiscriminate public parking on non-market days does not create a welcoming environment and is not sustainable.
“A comprehensive, parking survey is taking place as part of the planning process to assess the suitability of existing facilities across the town centre and inform the development of a parking strategy to ensure Earlestown has an appropriate and fit-for purpose operational parking estate. Stakeholders will be engaged to help inform this parking strategy.
“The council reviews fees and charges each year for all services, including its markets, with updates to the council’s webpages on an annual basis, and we'll continue to do so.”
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