Market Consultations

First published 29/01/2024.

Mixed Results for Retford Market Proposals following Public Consultation

A report to Bassetlaw District Council’s Cabinet on 8th February is recommending that plans for semi-permanent market stalls on Retford Market are scrapped following the results of a public consultation. The report calls for new proposals to be worked up instead, in collaboration with Market Traders and stakeholders.

However, the Cabinet report does recommend that plans to repurpose the Buttermarket at Retford Town Hall to provide an additional indoor trading space are taken forward.

The Council launched a six-week consultation in November and received 571 responses.  On the plans to install bespoke, semi-permanent, multipurpose market stalls on the Market Square in Retford Town Centre, two thirds of respondents (66.38%) either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposal. This was largely due to concerns about new stalls being a target for anti-social behaviour, the long-term visual impact on the Market Square and the functionality of the proposed stalls.

A petition opposing the proposal was also received by the Council.

The plans to repurpose the Buttermarket were positively received, with 64.10% of respondents either agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposal. The Cabinet report recommends that the Council therefore continues to develop the Buttermarket project.

Councillor James Naish, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council said:

“I’d like to thank everybody that took part in the consultation. It is clear from the responses that the plans for the market stalls lack public support, and we have to listen to that. I think we also have to acknowledge that we could have done better on this, including working with our traders to develop the proposals for the market.

“Our plans for the Buttermarket did have public support and I am looking forward to seeing these plans further developed to offer new trading opportunities.

“We want Retford Market to be sustainable in the long-term, with the market square used for its historic purpose. I will ensure we work with our traders and key stakeholders to bring forward new plans to safeguard the future of the market.”

Consultation responses:

Proposal 1 – Do you support the proposal to install bespoke, semi-permanent, multi-purpose market stalls on the Market Square in Retford Town Centre?

66.38% of online respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed, 31.7% of online respondents either agreed or strongly agreed, and 1.93% did not know.

Proposal 2 - Do you support the proposal to repurpose the Buttermarket to provide an additional indoor trading space?

64.10% of online respondents either agreed or strongly agreed, 20.67% of online respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed, and 15.24% did not know.                                  

Last Updated on Thursday, February 27, 2025