Paddy's traders shocked by council decision

"My own preference would be for the City Markets LLP to take overall management responsibility given their expertise in managing street markets, farmers markets and the weekly car boot sales at Blochairn, since the Arches market shares many of the characteristics of these types of markets. I am aware that Paddy's market does contain a number of legitimate traders and will give consideration to their ongoing property requirements in my own deliberations."

From this letter the traders understood that he recognised Paddy's as a viable market along similar lines to markets elsewhere and that it contained a number of legitimate traders, whose welfare he was considering.

However a report  also written by Steve Inch, which is due to be presented to the council's Executive Committee later this week, contains no such reassurances. The latest information came to the traders' attention after it was released by the council to some parts of the press and has come as a shock to traders.

Brian Daly, third generation trader in Paddy's market said:

"We are devastated by this. If Glasgow City council take vacant possession of Paddy's Market that will mean 80 or so people being put out of work. That will be 80 new people having to sign on to say nothing of the mental health impact in facing an uncertain and very bleak future. Not only that, there are people who have invested significant capital in their businesses here who will lose that without any compensation whatsover. The repercussions are dire. This is like the council making 80 people redundant and is bordering on theft.

"This is no way for a caring Labour administration to behave and if it were housing stock, for example, everyone would be rehoused or even a compulsory purchase order, businesses and people would be compensated.

"We have all said time and again we welcome the council's desire to get involved with Paddy's and want to work with them. We want change for the better. To have this proposed wholesale expulsion and termination of people's working lives as well as ripping out the heart of a community is a heartless act. Especially when the reasons underlying the council's decision to pursue this have no direct relation to these people that derive their living from Paddy's Market.

"If we can just get the council executive committee to agree to remove the clause 'take vacant possession' before they agree then we will have six months to work with whatever management structure they propose to preserve the best of Paddy's and all that's good for the city of Glasgow for future generations."

http://www.savepaddys.org">www.savepaddys.org to sign the online petition.