Market's fate in doubt as talks falter

Frankton Market in Hamilton. File photo / Nicola Topping

The future of Hamilton's long-running Frankton Markets could be in jeopardy after a breakdown in negotiations between the local business association and retail store Forlong's.

The markets, held on Commerce St on Saturdays, have been running for the past 24 years.

But their future is under threat because Forlong's, the suburb's largest retailer, has challenged the Hamilton City Council over the street's closure for the market.

Chris Allen, the general manager of city infrastructure, said despite several "amicable" discussions between the Frankton Business Association and Forlong's boss Terry Forlong, they had not been able to identify a solution.

He said the council would seek community views on the market's future, starting with a statement of proposal in February when the council will be asked to agree on a consultation process.

In April, when the council had the consultation results, it would need to decide on the market's future.

"Until this time council has no formal position on a solution for continuing the market," said Mr Allen.

"Any decision made can be appealed to the Environment Court, which is why we have worked hard to get community agreement first."

Mr Forlong said it was not his wish to see the markets closed.

He said Forlong's had been a strong supporter of the market and he was pleased the council had developed a process which meant it could continue.

"However, in recent years the market has impacted negatively on Forlong's Saturday trading, mostly because of parking and access issues for Forlong's customers," he said.

"We want the market to continue but it is not sustainable for the current impacts of the market on Forlong's to continue."

Mr Forlong suggested the market move a small distance away from the Forlong's store but still in Frankton to enable both the market and the store to trade, complementary to each other.

It had also offered to provide free parking for market customers - if the market was to move to a Sunday.

Frankton Business Association president Edwyna Carlson said the association had suggested closing Commerce St between Kent St and High St and Mr Forlong making his car park on High St available for market-goers.

"We were going to trial it for three months to see how it would work for both parties," she said.

By law, Commerce St can be closed for only 31 days a year, but the council has taken advantage of a legal loophole because the closure is for half a day.

Ms Carlson said the association had collected 11,000 signatures from patrons attending the markets who did not want to see it closed.

For many Frankton businesses more than a third of their weekly trade was on Saturday morning, she said.

Former Frankton businessman Bill Lee told Hamilton News that in the past, he and Mr Forlong's father, Ivan Forlong, had looked for ways to address sluggish Saturday patronage in Frankton.

The pair noticed a lot of garage sales held on Saturdays so Mr Forlong suggested people set up stalls to sell things in the Frankton shopping area.

RETAIL ROW

* The Frankton Markets, held on Commerce St, have been running for the past 24 years.
* Retail store Forlong's, also on Commerce St, says closing the street for the markets is hurting its trading because of parking and access issues.
* The Hamilton City Council will make a decision on the market's future in April.