Stallholders fear for the future of Skirlington market as new owners consider closure plans

Stallholders at an East Yorkshire market, soon to mark its 40th year, fear for its future after new owners have proposed plans that could see it close.

There are discussions ongoing by the owners of the land used for Skirlington market to use the space for some of its leisure facilities.

Director of the market Tom Parry says there's a huge need for it to stay:, he said:

"Unite Holidays bought it October last year, and then since then we've not heard anything. I rang up for an update and was told this third lot of planning that's going to go in will be the indoor outdoor market area, and it's going to become crazy golf climbing walls.

"That's the fact that it is nice and there's a lake in the middle, the old farm lake and the old sheds with character, and it's all a bit higgledy. If my business were dying, I would think, yeah, well, it's on its way out, but we're not as busy as we've ever been.

"We just hope that the council, when they're looking at the planning, will think this is really important. It's a landmark. It's been here 40 years. It does a lot of good to all the local businesses, and so we're just hoping that they might look at it and think, well, put your leisure park somewhere else. They've got another 20 acres that they've not developed yet."

Unity Holidays Chief Operating Officer Dermot King said:

“Asking Skirlington Market to vacate the site after nearly 40 years is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we are aware it will disappoint both the operators and their customers.

“However, Skirlington Coast is a family holiday park, and we feel the land is better used to offer more to our owners and holidaymakers.

“We have recently submitted plans for a new swimming pool and sun deck which, if approved by the council, will take our total investment in the park to beyond £10m since we purchased it late in 2024.

“The ideas we have for the area currently used by the market will require even further, substantial commitment from Unity Holidays.

“We believe this shows our desire to encourage more people to come and enjoy a break or own a holiday home on the East Yorkshire coast.

“That, in turn, allows us to employ more local people and support more local businesses – in the last year we spent in excess of £3 million with local caravan manufacturers alone.

“It is our belief that by continuing to find ways to improve Skirlington Coast, we can also help drive greater footfall to our neighbours in the likes of Bridlington and Hornsea.”