Traders say a £7.5m market revamp of Leicester Market could spell the “end of business” after archaeologists digging up the original site uncovered Roman ruins.

Leicester Market’s vendors were moved to a temporary site in Green Dragon Square in late 2023 to make room for a huge revamp, but the plans have proved controversial with traders from the outset.

Leicester City Council says the plans will transform the market into a smaller, food-focused destination featuring 48 stalls, a European-style square and new hospitality spaces.

Completion is now expected in early 2027 after delays were caused in part by excavation work.

Traders say a reduction in footfall and a lack of council support while the works happen is leaving them struggling to make ends meet.

Odel Pittard, a fruit vendor, said: “Where’s the £7.5m going? We’re getting nothing. We’ve been promised so much by the city mayor and we haven’t received any of it.

“We’ve been here for three years struggling to make ends meet. We’ve had no compensation, no rent reductions, and every time they dig and find something that’s then putting the new stage of the build behind which is leaving us in further despair.

“I don’t want to be here. Give us the £7.5m, give us compensation, pay us out and we will all leave because we’ve got bills to pay. We’ve got families, and it’s not worth us being here on a day-to-day basis.”

Some traders have also raised concerns about the design of the new market, as the discovery of the ruins means plans for a roof will have to be redrawn.

Spencer Harris, also a fruit seller, felt an open-air layout would be “ridiculous”, and said if he can’t access a stall under cover from the rain, the business won’t be viable moving forward.

He said: “We don’t live in Barcelona. That will be the end of the business. I’ll have to go and work for somebody else.

“Soulsby doesn’t care. The council don’t do anything to help us out.”

The news of the vendors’ anger comes as archaeologists recently uncovered around 30 Roman coins and timber as well as the remains of a 15th and 16th-century building under the old market.

Seller Vicki said it was a “fabulous” find for the city, and would like to see the heritage highlighted in the final design.

However, she added that working toward the end vision while customer numbers decline has not been easy.

She said: “It’s been blocked off for such a long time. People are struggling to find where we are now. It is hard work because I’m losing half a day’s trade – by two o’clock there’s no one here.

“We have had to fight to get back to what we were promised. I have got enough trying to build up a trade without worrying about whether I’m going back to what I know. It is not fair.”

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “I’ve met frequently with the market traders’ representatives, most recently on March 2, to provide updates on the works taking place and the progress of the university’s archaeological excavations.

“From some of the comments, however, it looks as though we should do more to communicate directly with the traders, instead of relying on their representatives.

“The archaeologists’ important work is now largely complete and I’m assured that their excavations should not have a major impact on the finishing date for the works. I very much hope that traders will still be able to return to the market square within the year as planned.

“Owing to the archaeology discovered beneath the square, however, plans for a roof would need to be re-drawn – and that would clearly add more time to the build. This was discussed with the traders’ representatives, who persuaded me that moving back onto the site was the best option and should happen as quickly as possible – even if the site remained uncovered.

“The new market stalls will feature a large canopy roof to offer protection from the weather – a design that the traders have helped to shape.

“I understand the traders have some frustrations about their current location, but I have reassured them that they will be returning to a much-improved market area. I am also hopeful that we will be able to attract funding to improve the historic buildings surrounding the market, in the same way we have restored the façade of the Grand Hotel and adjacent buildings – making the area an important and attractive visitor destination in its own right.”

A council spokesman said: “We remain committed to providing tailored support to help traders during the period of the redevelopment. This includes providing an average 30 per cent discount on rents since they have been based in Green Dragon Square.”

Caitlin James (Local Democracy Reporter)