Landowners accused of bullying as market closes

Jun 27 2007 by Staff Reporter, Liverpool Daily Post

THE operator of Liverpool’s Stanley Dock ma rket has accused landowners of “bully boy” tactics after his site was closed down yesterday.

Mel Reid, managing director of NW1, the market’s operator, says he is taking legal action to try to ensure it will be open again this Sunday, after owners Kitgrove closed the site indefinitely yesterday morning.

The popular market has been the scene of several Trading Standards raids in the past six months, which have led to millions of pounds worth of counterfeit clothing and pirate DVDs being seized.

Both Kitgrove and NW1 have received letters threatening prosecution from Liverpool council, and Kitgrove claims this is the reason for closure.

Mr Reid claimed last night that Kitgrove had entered the site illegally to close it down. “They have decided to play bully boy tactics,” he said.

“None of us were at the site and so had no idea what had happened.

“The market will be open on Sunday. I have been talking to barristers and am in the process of getting an injunction.

“They can’t just close us down.

“I do not want to see 140 traders out of work, but they do not seem to care that it is their livelihood.”

Mr Reid also thinks the closure is linked with the huge leisure and residential development planned at Stanley Dock.

Kitgrove has put forward a £100m-plus scheme to convert the tobacco warehouse and the two adjoining Jesse Hartley warehouses into a dockside homes and leisure development.

Planning permission for a large portion of the market is due to expire this summer, and the owners would need to seek a new licence.

“They do not think they will get planning permission for the market, and I think this is to do with the closure,” said Mr Reid.

He confirmed the market has received regular visits from Trading Standards but added: “It is impossible for me to police the whole market. I am willing to co-operate as much as possible to keep out illegal traders.

“We just want to try and run a legal market with good traders.”

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: “We have been informed by Kitgrove that they have closed the market until further notice.”

“We have written to both the operator and Kitgrove warning them that if criminal activities at the market continue they may be libel to prosecution.

Kitgrove spokesman Hugh Stallard said: “Due to allegations by Liverpool council the market will be closed until further notice.”

lizawilliams