Possible stay of execution for Kinross markets

Sep 9 2011 by Denis Brown, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SUPPORTERS of a campaign to save twin markets in Kinross were on tenterhooks yesterday awaiting to hear if a stay of execution would be granted.

In the latest development, traders and patrons – outraged at site owner SMA Vehicle Remarketing’s shock decision to pull the plug on the 30-year-old markets – cancelled planned picketing of SMA’s Kinross offices.

They agreed to hold off while bosses deliberated on a plea to stall closure until after Christmas, enabling traders to operate during their busiest period while an alternative market site could be found.

Masterminding the move is Iqbal Choudry who manages the Saturday car boot sale and Sunday market at Bridgend for Scorpion GB Ltd under the auspices of owner SMA.

“I had a meeting with SMA on Tuesday and asked for an extension of the closure until after Christmas,” he said.

“This would also give me time to organise another location for the markets – I’ve got three or four possible sites at the moment, both indoor and outdoors.”

Although he declined to reveal exact locations, a source told the PA that one was in Perthshire.

But yesterday afternoon, Mr Choudry was still awaiting a decision from SMA.

When the PA attempted to contact the Bridgend site’s owner – believed to be Bob Anderson – at SMA’s Livingston offices, a receptionist refused to pass on the newspaper’s contact phone number.

“No, I don’t think I will,” she said, before slamming down the phone.

Meanwhile, a more amicable staffer at SMA’s Kinross repeated the edict from last week – that head office had ordered staff not to discuss the issue with media.

As revealed in last Friday’s PA, SMA got traders and patrons offside when announcing it was game over for the twin markets by circulating flyers at the markets.

The flyer explained a decision to close followed a thorough review and factors including complaints by local residents and increased planning and operating requirements to comply with emerging regulations.

It also mentioned changes in consumer habits, a reference to a decline in patronage, which supporters acknowledge while also insisting the two operations remain going concerns.

Many residents are livid about being tarnished as scapegoats, such as Susanne McLaren, who has demanded that SMA back up its claims by showing any letters of complaints.

“To my knowledge none of the neighbours objected to the recent application for the licence for the market for the next three years,” she said.

“I feel the residents are being made to be scapegoats while SMA hide behind us.”

Kinross-shire Councillor Sandy Miller said residents had assured him that no complaints had been made recently and any concerns raised with Mr Choudry had been dealt with satisfactorily.

“One of the residents, Paul Cormack, attempted to explain to traders the position and they were so angry and abusive toward him that he had to leave the site,” he said.

“I would strongly suggest that if SMA wish to maintain good relations with the local community they should look into this matter and issue a full apology and ensure that the traders are better informed about the reason for closure.”

Last week, car booter Bill Barnes told the PA he believed there could be plans to use part of the site for housing development.

He pointed out that an application to build 89 houses on the Bridgend site had been discussed by Perth and Kinross Council’s development and control committee in May 2006.

Mr Choudry said if his clemency plea failed, then traders would be left with nowhere to go.

“I really feel sorry for the traders, some of them have been here for 20, 25, 30 years,” he said.

“It will be a big loss for Kinross as well, as people come from all over – places like Dundee, Dunfermline and Edinburgh – for the markets, so the town will be totally dead at the weekend.

“I admit the patronage is not what it used to be before the credit crunch, but it’s still a going concern.”