Morecambe Festival Market 'needs to modernise' says councillor

A councillor has called for the town's Festival Market to be modernised - saying it's had 'years of neglect'.

Councillor Joanne Ainscough said the market owners Lancaster City Council "neither recognise its value or care about its potential".

Councillor Ainscough, of Labour, also said "no clear economic policy or commercial direction exists" to help the market.

She was speaking at a meeting of full council at Morecambe Town Hall, where she put forward a motion in support of the Festival Market, its traders and customers.

"Morecambe needs its market," she said.

"(Its) 28 per cent vacancy rate is not inevitable, it's a result of neglect.

"The only upgrades in recent years, have been new signs. That isn't investment, that's a sticking plaster over neglect."

She said the council treats the market "as a problem to be managed rather than an asset to be supported" and said traders "expect the local authority to promote their marketplace and attract footfall, not quietly watch decline".

Speaking at Wednesday's meeting, Councillor Ainscough (below) also said the council's promotion of the market was "not fit for 2025, or even 2025 or 2005".

"Despite this bare minimum effort, the market still returns a surplus," she said.

"Imagine what this market could deliver if it was promoted properly.

"The solution isn't to squeeze traders harder, it's to modernise.

"The market should be a launchpad for new entrepreneurs. Right now that's not possible. Not with almost a third of the space sitting empty.

"I remember the old covered market in Poulton. It was a space full of life, full of energy, it was exciting. That's what a market should be. Vibrant, welcoming and full. Right now, our market is none of these things."

She called for "clear leadership, defined commercial strategy to turn the market into the success story it should be, basic operational standards and above all, serious competent marketing".

"Morecambe's market should be one of the town's biggest retail assets," she said.

"Instead it's being allowed to drift."

Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox, Green cabinet member for finance, then asked if she'd investigated the finances of the market.

"No," said Councillor Ainscough.

"I didn't have that information to hand before the motion was submitted."

Councillor Martin Bottoms, cabinet member for Morecambe regeneration and the local economy (below), a Morecambe Bay Independent, then asked if she'd consulted with Morecambe BID, the town's Business Improvement District.

"No, it was the traders who brought the issue to local councillors," said Councillor Ainscough.

"I'm sure BID would be very interested in this motion as well. Probably a neglect on my part."

Councillor Bottoms then said the market came under his portfolio of responsibility.

"I am a frequent visitor to the market and I speak to the traders, and I've only ever had no more than a singular issue," he said.

Councillor Ainscough replied: "It is more than one (issue), I've had at least three speak to me about it, and to the mayor (Councillor Margaret Pattison) as well."

Councillor Bottoms continued: "(In December) the stallholders, the ones I spoke to, indicated no concerns. The mayor has passed those issues to me. 

"I've made other visits to the market (since then).

"The issues with regards to the building are picked up by market staff on a day to day basis and resolved as quickly as posssible.

"(A recent) Building Condition Survey highlighted a range of work that needs to be done. This work is being programmed.

"It has been suggested that the market open more days. This would not only prove costly to the council but it is also unpopular with many traders, as some of them have stalls elsewhere.

"Should any stallholders get into difficulty financially, officers work with them in a fair and flexible manner to reach a mutual agreement."

Councillor Bottoms then proposed an amended motion.

Councillor Gina Dowding, of the Greens (below) said she'd support the amended motion as it took away "the implication that the council isn't supporting the market traders".

But Councillor Ainscough said the amendment would "block the entire motion".

"It's sad that the amendment was dropped on me five seconds ago, virtually," she said.

"It does take away the essence of the motion and (is) quite pointless, really.

"We need to support market traders and make sure they have a way of ensuring that their businesses can thrive and reduce the debt that they have.

"It's a sheer lack of will from the council for many years to actually invest in that building. We need to move with the times.

"I won't be voting for the amendment."

Councillor Peter Jackson, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader of the council (below), said: "Councillor Ainscough had some significant good ideas, specifically about marketing, which seems to have been a weakness, I'd agree.

"We will certainly be looking at ways to make the market better and more successful."

Councillors then took a vote and passed the amendment via a 30-16 majority.

This altered the motion being voted for, and after another vote, Councillor Bottoms' amended motion was passed.

Lancaster City Council is run by a coalition of Green, Liberal Democrat and Morecambe Bay Independent councillors. The Greens have the highest number of councillors, with Labour as the largest group in opposition.

ORIGINAL LABOUR MOTION

“The council seeks to acknowledge the vital role Morecambe’s Festival Market plays in the community, the opportunity it provides for small local businesses and sole traders, and in delivering the council’s mission for sustainable growth.

"However, the seasonal nature of the market’s business requires that the council, which owns and maintains the market itself, to show flexibility and consideration to those who operate out of it so it can serve Morecambe and the visitor economy all year round.

"The council notes: The vitality of the market to Morecambe and its visitors as an accessible and affordable place to shop and do business. The importance of traders at the market who make its operation possible, and as such the necessity to attract and maintain Morecambe’s fantastic small businesses and sole traders. Concerns raised by market traders about the inflexibility of the council’s management of the market, and concerns raised by residents about the vitality of the market as a result.

"The council commends: the Festival Market traders for their continued work despite the difficulties posed by the seasonal nature of their hard work and lack of attention paid to that work by the current council administration.

"The work of Madame Mayor, Councillor Pattison in promoting the success of the market in her business as a councillor and advocate for Morecambe.

"The council regrets: The difficulties faced by market traders in light of the council’s current approach to rent and debt collection, which lacks an awareness of the ebbs and flows to Morecambe’s seasonal economy.

"The lack of investment in the Festival Market, which has worsened the impact of seasonality on its ability to trade, such as in the absence of effective heating.

"That it has been unable to support market traders who have left the Festival Market, by choice or financial pressure, in keeping their business within its walls.

"The council resolves: To task the leader of the council to clarify which cabinet member is responsible for the Morecambe Festival Market, the Cabinet Member for Morecambe Regeneration and Local Economy or the Cabinet Member for Lancaster Regeneration and Local Economy.

"To task that cabinet member to contact current market traders with an opportunity to hear their thoughts and to consider them in light of the pressures they are under and the ability of the council to relieve that.”

COUNCILLOR BOTTOMS' AMENDED MOTION

“The council seeks to acknowledge the vital role Morecambe’s Festival Market plays in the community, the opportunity it provides for small local businesses and sole traders, and in delivering the council’s mission for sustainable growth.

"The council notes: The vitality of the market to Morecambe and its visitors as an accessible and affordable place to shop and do business.

"The importance of traders at the market who make its operation possible, and as such the necessity to attract and maintain Morecambe’s fantastic small businesses and sole traders.

"The council resolves: To task the leader of the council to clarify which cabinet member is responsible for the Morecambe Festival Market, the Cabinet Member for Morecambe Regeneration and Local Economy or the Cabinet Member for Lancaster Regeneration and Local Economy.

"To task that cabinet member to revisit current market traders with an opportunity to hear their thoughts and to consider them in light of the pressures they are under and the ability of the council to relieve that.”

The Festival Market has been operating since 1996.

It comprises a covered area containing over 90 stalls and 15 separate units. There are also food stalls and two cafés.

The market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 4.30pm (October to March) and 9am to 5pm (April to September) and all Bank Holidays from Easter to August.

A council report said: "The market now operates in such a way that stall holders keep their stock at the premises and do not need to vacate each day.

"Presently the 15 market shop units are fully occupied. However, the market has 27 vacant stalls which is a 28 per cent vacancy rate.

"Some traders are in debt and the council has negotiated specific payment plans with these traders to reduce and eliminate these debts.

"Terms reflecting the seasonal nature of the market have also been offered.

"Furthermore, the traders have been offered advice from the council’s economic development function regarding business advice and support.

"The council does of course have policies in place regarding debt management which provide the flexibilities to balance the needs of businesses with the responsibility the council has for the public purse."

The report said the market has delivered surpluses over the past three years of £16,000 (2022/23), £28,000 (2023/24) and £43,000 (2024/25).

It said there is £323,000 of revenue expenditure earmarked in 2026/27 mainly for re-roofing works.

"With regard to the financial years up to and including 2024/25, the amount of debtor income outstanding relating to those years is around £90,000 of which around £27,000 is over two years old as at June 30 2025.

"A number of stall holders are currently under referral to the agency and are all still trading with no repayment plan being agreed and in place.

"Several stall holders are still trading which have long standing debt but have not yet been referred to the agency, whilst incurring debt within this financial year.

"The highest individual debt amount is around £13,000. Going forward, it is estimated that 10 per cent of annual income will be subject to long-term recovery and potentially be written off at some point in the future."

FESTIVAL MARKET RENTS 2024/25

The current rents for stallholders and units are:

Permanent stalls full month - £260 (October to March) £355 (April to September)

Shops full month - £325 (October to March) £430 (April to September)

(Longstanding permanent traders can use an empty stall to display goods, until it becomes occupied, at rates of either £100 or £150 a month. Casual 'pop up stalls' cost £30 a month.)