Market traders who wanted to open their stalls on Christmas Eve were promised by Stoke-on-Trent City Council they could do so before the decision was taken to keep them closed, a community leader has claimed.

Councillor Faisal Hussain has demanded an apology from the authority's deputy leader for Stoke Market traders who voted to open on Christmas Eve, which falls on a Sunday this year.

But deputy leader Amjid Wazir, who is also cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability, said most market traders in the city had not wanted to open on the Sunday before Christmas. And they were instead being offered an extra opening day for free.

Councillor Hussain, speaking at Thursday's full council meeting, said: "I visited Stoke Market and spoke to the traders – 90% of those I spoke to wanted the council to allow them to open on Christmas Eve. In the vote the council organised in September, Stoke Market voted to open on Christmas Eve.

"The traders told me that the council promised that the result of their ballot would be upheld, only to find out that the decision was taken to close them anyway. It is now too late for the traders to advertise to open on Christmas Eve, even if the administration u-turned."

Councillor Hussain visited Stoke Market and found that 90% of traders wanted to open on Christmas Eve (Nub News).

Councillor Wazir responded: "We know many residents visit our markets in the build up to the festive period and in many cases our traders offer local and more cost-effective products. This year Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday which is not a normal trading day for our indoor markets and therefore, during September 2023, a poll was carried out which involved contacting all stall holders that were operating at that time to establish their appetite for Christmas Eve opening.

"Based on the results of this poll, the decision has been made to keep our indoor markets closed on Sunday 24 December. The majority didn't want to open.

"During the lead up to Christmas we have offered all traders at Longton, Stoke and Tunstall indoor markets an additional opening day on Thursday 21 December – at no additional cost to them – and Hanley Market will be open for business as usual all week. The last day of trading before Christmas at all the city's indoor markets will be Saturday 23 December and the full festive season opening days along with some exciting events will be announced soon.

"That's the reason we are closing on Christmas Eve, which is on a Sunday – normally a non-working day. They can open on Thursday instead and they can carry on as usual."

READ MORE: Brand-new cake and coffee shop set to open on busy Stoke-on-Trent street

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