Festive market cancellation is a 'big hit' to businesses

Some traders say they are disappointed a Christmas market in County Antrim has been cancelled following objections to it happening on a Sunday.

It is understood a number of councillors raised concerns about the plans for the market in Ballyclare this weekend.

One representative said the space was used for parking by people who attend a local church.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said it requested the event be moved to a different day to increase footfall for other businesses in town.

The decision was criticised by some stall holders who said it had been taken at short notice.

Alan Burns, who owns a catering business, estimated he would be down several hundred pounds in lost earnings due to the event not going ahead as planned.

He said he had the market booked from the end of September and was only told it was cancelled 10 days before it was due to take place.

“It has a major impact, especially this time of year. We rely on markets two, three, four times a week to tie us through the quiet months of January, February and March," he said.

“To lose one of them is a big hit to the business."

Mr Burns said he believed a market happening in a town that would otherwise be quiet on a Sunday was a good thing.

“It’s bringing extra people into the town, good footfall, it’s helping any businesses who are open as well as the market traders," he said.

Jake Bassett, who uses 3D printers to make toys which he was due to sell at the market, said the lead up to Christmas was his busiest time.

“I was appalled by the short notice given. It is going to have quite a big impact on my business," Mr Bassett said.

“What has a day of the week got to do with cancelling a market?”

Amanda Brashaw owns a jewellery making business and was due to trade at the event.

She said she was “pretty gutted and angry” at the cancellation.

“I had two markets that weekend so that’s half my trading for the week," she said.

It is understood the concerns about the market were made privately by some councillors to council officers.

Ulster Unionist Party councillor Vera McWilliam told BBC News NI: “The space that is normally used for the markets has been used by the church on Sundays for a number of years.”

McWilliam was referring to members of a local church’s congregation who park at the town hall on Sundays.

She said the organiser’s “homework wasn’t done” in terms of the location.

BBC News NI contacted Democratic Unionist Party councillors in Ballyclare who declined to comment.

Independent councillor Michael Stewart and Alliance Party councillor Lewis Boyle confirmed they did not complain to the council about the market.

Boyle said he was only made aware the event was cancelled after the fact.

“Before this cancellation took place, there should have been a consultation with all elected members in the DEA, the traders and additionally other traders in the town who have a stakehold in making sure this market is successful," he said.

He questioned why the market was initially organised and then promoted by council.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council had promoted the event before its cancellation was announced.

A council spokesperson said: “Town centre markets are contracted for the benefit of town centre businesses by increasing footfall.

“Given that the majority of Ballyclare shops are closed on a Sunday, the council asked Urban Markets, who are contracted to run town centre markets on the council’s behalf, to move the event to another date so that the local business community can benefit from it.”

Approximately 25 local businesses were expected to take part in the event, many of which are understood to be from the borough.

BBC News NI has contacted Urban Markets for comment.