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Training plan is an insult, say Leicester market traders
Tuesday 16 February 2010
Source; Leicester Mercury
Monday, February 15, 2010
Traders have welcomed plans to kick-start the revival of Leicester Market – but called proposals for them to be sent on customer service training an "insult".
The idea was one of a number of suggestions for the city's market made in a report by the city council after an 18-month review.
The council wanted to look at ways to boost business at the market, which is making £320,000 less profit than expected every year.
Other proposals include possibly demolishing the indoor market and removing smelly rubbish lorries.
Trader Steve Francks, who runs Teresa's Salads, said: "If the place got a bit of a spruce-up it would definitely be a good thing. In the summer it does smell a bit so if they can stop that we'll be very happy."
But he said customer service training was not necessary.
"I don't think we need to go on a course to teach us how to deal with our customers," he said.
"We deal with hundreds every day. I think we're all pretty good, to be honest.
"It's a bit of an insult to suggest we need to be trained."
Greengrocer David Cottingham, who has run DG Cottinghams for 40 years, said whoever came up with the idea of customer service training "needs to come down and spend a few days working on a market stall – then they'll realise what we're like with our customers".
But Mr Cottingham said he was "pleased" about the plans to address problem smells in the market, and said the stalls in the indoor and outdoor market "all need to be brought closer together". Tim Pole is joint owner of Country Fayre, butchers and delicatessen in the indoor market.
He said: "If we all moved outside it would be much better. It's a very old building with no windows so it's always dark."
Shopper Lisa-Anne Copinn, 41, from Beaumont Leys, said: "I don't think the market is too bad at the moment but it could do with a little bit of a clean."
Fellow shopper Albert Platt, 84, from Braunstone Town, said: "The smell can be a bit off-putting. Removing the big rubbish truck would help."
The report will be presented to council cabinet members today.
