The Markets

Sheffield, in the latter half of the first decade of the 21^st century, is in a time of change, after a period of some decades it has decided, rather rapidly, to shake of the yoke of the economic depression that befell it in the late twentieth century; Sheffield is regenerating itself!

Among the many projects whose aim is to knock down the city centre industry and replace it with shops, offices, hotels and luxury apartments is the redevelopment of the Moor and the indoor markets. The indoor markets at Castle Markets on the east side of the city centre and the shopping precinct the Moor, at the south end were both part of the post-war regeneration of the 50's and 60's. Considered at the time to be new, modern and exciting they are now felt to be dated, dirty and ugly.

Sheffield City Council has decided to pull down Castle Markets and move the indoor markets to the Moor. To achieve this they sold the Moor, lock stock, to the German organisation Deutsche Bank, who over a number of years will develop the Moor to bring it in line with and create a supposed World Class City.

Along with Debenhams, Atkinson, Woolworths and other national chains, the Moor is home to the community of Sheffield's outdoor markets, a group of people who share a common bond, a group of people who stand in the cold and the heat, day after day, serving the public with bargain after bargain.

Their place in the regeneration is not one of progress, prosperity or success, but a story of neglect, uncertainty and being unwanted. While the indoor market is to be moved to the Moor, the future of the outdoor market has not been decided, Deutsche bank have stated they do not want the market traders on the newly developed precinct, so the council have to find an alternative location.

At the beginning of 2007 the council had proposed that the outdoor markets should be held outside Sheffield Cathedral; 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year. This proposition fell through in February 2007 after the Cathedral, who had not been informed, adamantly stated NO! The market Traders themselves would not have gone there either, as it's one of the quietest areas of the city and they found it quite disrespectful to suggest that they have to live side by side with wedding and funeral processions weaving in and around them week after week.

The traders want to go to Fargate, one of the busiest sections in the city, but the council refuses to entertain the idea of housing the outdoor markets there, as the space is reserved for visiting markets and fairs.