© Copyright Lewis Clarke and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence.

Exeter Sunday Market and Car Boot Sale to close temporarily

Stagecoach have unexpectedly brought forward the start date for work on the new bus depot at Matford, meaning a temporary closure of the weekly Sunday market and car boot sale at the Exeter Livestock Centre.

This week's market (Sunday 2 November) will be the last until the new year, with the market re-opening on Sunday 3 January.

It had been expected that the works on the depot would start in February and the market would have been able to operate alongside it. However the Livestock Centre is currently undergoing major works to replace its roof and install solar panels, two important projects which will ensure the future of the centre for years to come. The works need to be completed by the end of December to meet the deadline set by Western Power for connecting the solar panels to the national grid and recouping the costs from the feed-in tariffs.

With both the roof and depot works now taking place on site over the next two months it will not be possible to hold the market during that period.

Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, said: "We are sorry for the disruption that this unexpected and sudden temporary closure will have on the sellers and buyers who use the market. The news that the bus depot development was being brought forward in addition to the other works already taking place on site means that we were left with no choice as we do not feel that we can organise it in a safe manner while work on both depot and the Livestock Centre roof continues. We understand how important the market is so this isn't a decision we have taken easily. We are absolutely committed to reopening the market in January and hope to see it thrive for a long time to come."

Cllr Denham added: "The planning permission for the bus depot includes funding for the Traffic Order to remove on-street parking restrictions in the area around the Livestock Centre. This is something we have been asking Devon County Council to do for a while, and we will be keeping up the pressure to get these parking restrictions removed as soon as possible so that more parking is available for buyers who visit the market".

The Sunday Market and Car Boot Sale has been held at the centre for more than 20 years when it replaced a similar event that was organised on the old Leos' supermarket site. Local charities and community groups assist with the running of the market to earn funds for their organisation.

Dave Lewis, the City Council's events, facilities and markets manager said "Over the last few months we have been talking to traders, car boot sellers and buyers to identify how the market should operate once work starts on the bus depot. We will continue to work hard on those plans throughout the closure period to ensure that the market can continue to be a success on the smaller site."

"To encourage car boot sellers to attend the new market when it reopens those attending this Sunday will be given vouchers allowing them free entry to the first two markets in January. Those charities and community groups that were due to help with the market in November and December will also be given priority for markets in 2016."

The park and ride will continue to operate as normal when the bus depot itself is operational but it will be unavailable on Sundays from early in 2016.