Victoria Centre Market traders criticise treatment by Nottingham City Council
A number of traders said they were told to return their keys yesterday
Victoria Centre Market traders say they have been treated ‘terribly’ by Nottingham City Council after some were told to return their keys on Halloween.
The council first announced its intention to close the market in 2022, saying it had been forced to subsidise it for nearly a decade since the centre’s previous owners, intu, put service charges up.
More than two years later in September 2024, the Labour-run authority said it had started terminating legal agreements with traders who had break clauses, and “significant rent arrears”.
The council said any traders who have breached their legal agreements by failing to pay rent have now been formally notified to leave.
While most traders have been given a date of March 2025, three traders were told to hand back their keys on Thursday (October 31).
Vivian David, who runs the Vivi Collection clothing store, said her lawyer contacted the council in August and September to get an update on the situation.
Ms David says she only received a response email from the council’s solicitor on Thursday (October 31), stating she “should return all the keys” on the same day.
The email, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, says she must clear her stock within a reasonable timeframe, and that it must be done by appointment.
“I was waiting for them to respond to my request to see what I could do,” she said.
“I feel very depressed because I don’t know what to do. The worst thing is they keep on sending you letters, they tell you if you don’t pay your rent, and that we the council will take you to court.
“But they are not fulfilling what they promised to do. I wouldn’t be in debt if they told me I had to pack my things and they would give me compensation. I should have gone by now.”
Ms David said she remained at the market because she was promised “adequate compensation” from the council as part of its previous plans to negotiate an early exit from the market.
The authority has about 50 years remaining on its lease of the market.
However, negotiations with centre manager Global Mutual, which took over from intu after its collapse, fell through in June last year.
Traders say they were left more confused after a meeting was held the same month to inform them negotiations had fallen through – and that the market would remain open.
New traders were invited to set up on short-term leases while the council decided on what to do next.
Just a few months later in December, after the council declared effective bankruptcy, traders were then informed the council had decided to end the lease by summer or autumn 2024.
The closure date failed to materialise again.
Ms David says she has since racked up rent arrears due to low footfall, owing to the council’s poor messaging and the uncertainty surrounding the planned closure.
Frank Sagoe, who helps his wife run a perfume shop, has been told they must leave in March.
“The way they are treating us is terrible,” he said.
“They put us in this mess. They have already announced, and gone on radio, they are closing the place. We are not getting any customers to come here and buy anything, so it is very hard to pay our rent.
“We are looking for a way for them to compensate us before we leave.”
A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council said: “We met with traders on September 19, 2024 and confirmed our plans to close the market and have served notice on traders with significant rent arrears.
“Unfortunately, several stallholders have breached their legal agreements by failing to pay rent, collectively owing the council over £400,000.
“Any trader with significant unpaid rent has been or will be formally notified to vacate the market.
“With the council facing substantial financial challenges, it’s crucial that we address these outstanding rent issues.
“Additionally, we will be terminating legal agreements with traders who have applicable break clauses to cease their occupancy at the market.”
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