New market closed hours after opening

Paul John Coulter • Published 29 Jun 2011 12:00 27 Comments

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A NEW outdoor market was closed by police and council officials just hours after it opened.

The market - at Greenock's East India Harbour - started trading yesterday.

However, just a few hours after opening for business, police received a report from Inverclyde Council Trading Standards officers that the market was allegedly operating without the proper licence.

Heather Young, of operators P&H Markets, said: "I was unaware I had done anything wrong.

"I thought because we had paid for the licence and the insurance was in order that we were ready to go.

"But the licence had not been printed and sent to me. I am going to make an apology to the licensing department and the Trading Standards because it appears it's my fault.

"It was a paperwork blip because everything was in order and working and the public seemed to enjoy it.

"I will go today and try and get it resolved."

Police officers attended the market at around 2pm.

Councillor Chris Osborne attended the market.

He said: "The police were there and I tried to buy some fruit and veg but they closed it down because they apparently didn't have the correct licence.

"The market traders had been told not to sell another item.

"I am really disappointed because it's something new for Inverclyde and something which is hoped would really take off and bring people into the area."

The market operators ware aiming to be the first privately run Tuesday market in Scotland.

A female is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in relation to the incident yesterday.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 29 Jun 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

blacksofstichill
1 post
Jun 29, 13:53
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I hope they get the market back up and running soon. I'm not a local but was in Greenock yesterday and popped into the market before I went home, it was certainly well attended for it's first day and the Butcher's Van was doing an excellent trade. I must have left around 10 minutes before the police arrived!

Recommend? Yes 21 No 1
askelvis
456 posts
Jun 29, 15:38
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Wonder who tipped them off Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Recommend? Yes 15 No 1
Gretchen
6 posts
Jun 29, 16:43
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The council officials certainly moved quicker to close the market than they did to move on the travellers who caused such a disgusting mess when the camped at Parklea. The market would have been a boost for the area, the travellers weren't, and it cost money to clear their mess.

Recommend? Yes 32 No 1
Weapon
95 posts
Jun 29, 16:48
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Do any slightly more mature readers recall the outdoor market that used to trade in Westburn Street? Was it just on Saturdays? What was that called? I seem to remember it being referred to as "The Barras" (after the famous Glasgow market of course).

Anyway, as you were...

Recommend? Yes 8 No 1
sc1234
8 posts
Jun 29, 17:59
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must have been no money in it for the council they dont like it when its not them thats making out 0ff it they dont like to see people gettin on or could it have been greeeadyyy tescos ..............

Recommend? Yes 10 No 1
highlandlass
3 posts
Jun 29, 18:10
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I remember the market at Westburn Street. I think it was just a Saturday, as I was a wee girl at the time and went with my mum she had her day off, which was then.

Recommend? Yes 7 No 1
cazajay
19 posts
Jun 29, 18:10
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No offence but if her licence was paid for it's not as if she was doing the buggers out of money. It would fit them better if the police got rid of the knives on the street and tge kids caught with them in their possession sent to jail like they are supposed to be.

Recommend? Yes 17 No 3
echosounder
130 posts
Jun 29, 18:44
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Yet another example from Inverclyde Council of "we didn't think of it so it isn't going to worK". They haven't yet learned that a) they never seem to think of anything worth while and b) they never seem to think of anything that seems to work!!!!

The police should also be ashamed that they considered it necessary to intervene in this. Maybe Mr Cameron has got it right after all - too many - doing too litttle. (The roads must have been quiet for a change!!)

Recommend? Yes 19 No 3
buchananstreet
8 posts
Jun 29, 18:50
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same old council ats the ones that sell our land from under our feet along with clydeport ,if you trace it back the land belongs to the people of greenock along with the old albert harbour so council you should stop the bully boy tactics over a market stall

Recommend? Yes 14 No 1
dezzie
12 posts
Jun 29, 20:18
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This is why Inverclyde are in the mess they are. Officialdom are never happy to move with the times unless its on their terms. From Planning to Licencing its the same. I dont know anywhere that has such a backwards looking council. Statues at the edge of the town centres are not going to bring business in. For heavens sake let people set up businesses and if genuine mistakes are made then work with them to rectify the mistakes - dont punish them!! Why is that council run by dinosaurs? Time for a BIG change.

Recommend? Yes 22 No 1
jimmackie
14 posts
Jun 29, 20:51
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think the market would be great for the town

Recommend? Yes 16 No 1
Violets49
41 posts
Jun 29, 20:52
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I think the market "Highlandlass" Is thinking of was the "Barras" on the waste ground at the corner of High Street and Sugarhouse Lane!

This story is quite incredible! precicely how was the public put at risk by this? What does an administrative error have to do with the police? Was there so little crime in 'X' division that they could spare officers to participate in this charade? I have never voted for either of the two parties who have formed the ruling clique in Inverclyde since its formation! If this is an example of how they act,the sooner the rest of Inverclyde follow suit,the better!

Recommend? Yes 13 No 2
cartman
11 posts
Jun 29, 21:16
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not enough kick backs to council,

Recommend? Yes 11 No 1
jbgorm
3 posts
Jun 30, 11:02
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Weapon Wrote "Do any slightly more mature readers recall the outdoor market that used to trade in Westburn Street?"

Sure do although I never heard it called 'The Barras'. Was always just the Westburn market to me.

Recommend? Yes 5 No 0
myfindhorn
278 posts
Jun 30, 12:47
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Remember the days when that whole area was full of wee boats happy families and pensioners all out for days of freedom and fresh air, and now here we are once again making it a desolate place with no personality. Thank god the council can,t get rid of the ghosts of Greenock past, remember the old councillers who made Greenock great, their wages were the love of their town and just expenses. Well there you go they call this progress WHO,S not the peoples. THis council is nitpicking only because it dos,nt take a lot of energy and it is of no real finacial benefit to them.

Recommend? Yes 8 No 0
Tiddles
1077 posts
Jun 30, 13:13
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Utter heavy-handed rubbish. Whoever authorised this both in the police and the council should be held to account over this. God, you'd think she was dealing drugs

Recommend? Yes 13 No 0
hendonkaz
1 post
Jun 30, 15:10
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is it going to be back up and running again ,,would love a outdoor market to take off in the town

Recommend? Yes 11 No 0
llessur
5 posts
Jun 30, 16:07
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What a shame ... Surely the council should have made certain that all the necessary red tape was in place before allowing the market to open it's doors. Now they will probably land the owner with a heafty fine. A great way to welcome a new business to the area.

Recommend? Yes 5 No 1
PennyLiar
11 posts
Jun 30, 21:37
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If The Greenock Telegraph's article is accurate (it happens sometimes), then I'd like to offer a big, sarcastic, "Well done Inverclyde Council".

The market was well publicised, it was potentially offering a new attraction to Inverclyde, and it was circulating money locally.

And someone chose the day it opened to call the police and close it.

Unless there is another side to the story that has not been told ?

Recommend? Yes 5 No 0
NEARTIC
42 posts
Jun 30, 22:31
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great good on the greenock police they enforce somthing stupid like this but they can`t solve a 25 year old murder and thety wonder why the get little help from yhe public

Recommend? Yes 6 No 0
NEARTIC
42 posts
Jun 30, 23:06
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so some one told the trading standard officers i wonder who that could have been, the councils bed buddies TESCO

Recommend? Yes 4 No 0
scotgirl
44 posts
Jul 5, 10:23
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is this market back open? have seen posters advertising it

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
WeeJockW
676 posts
Jul 5, 18:48
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I wonder if they have the right licences in place for the tall ships event, be funny if they didn't. Might be well worth a wee phonecall to the police just to make sure that ALL licences for the event are in order and properly displayed, along with certificates of insurnace etc.

Recommend? Yes 4 No 0
Stephen4
39 posts
Jul 7, 02:35
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The world has gone mad in my opinion, yet planners let a certain supermarket open with a car park above where the fire brigade can't enter, I'd say a few bricks short of a building!

I can't comment any further on this matter.

Recommend? Yes 3 No 0
rodmod
16 posts
Jul 7, 14:11
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The Big Society Hmmmphhh!!!!!!!! some society,Nae broon envelopes for the demented ones in the town hall I shall check and see if the lady who applied for the licence has had her phone hacked ?

Recommend? Yes 1 No 0
greenan
2 posts
Jul 9, 11:32
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Its why the police will never be respected in Greenock!!

Recommend? Yes 2 No 0
Pollydun
1 post
Apr 3, 17:09
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I heard a New Food and Craft Market, is opening in The Town Hall, on Thursday 12Th April 2012, its the same folk who opened that good market last June at the docks.

Me and my pals are going along for opening day bargains and a free cup of tea.

Has anybody else heard about it?

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

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