Leeds Kirkgate Market
A further £1.35 million will be ploughed into the extension of Kirkgate Market, over and above its original £12.3 million budget.
The new funds follow a survey which has revealed more work needs to be done, and construction costs have risen.
Leeds Council made the decision to allocate the extra funds yesterday, despite the fact that the ongoing disruption at the market is making business tricky for traders.
The refurbishment and extension work has blocked several of the entrances to the market. Traders report that this means that fewer people are using the market as a shortcut, which decreases footfall and passing trade.
Some have reported trade being down by as much as 30%, and are getting irate about the ongoing works.
Neil Gough, fruit shop owner, said: “I’m getting asked every ten minutes, ‘Excuse me, do you know where the fishmonger has gone?’ I could do without being a public address system in my shop.”
Phil Bennett, butcher, said: “Just because we are having a redevelopment, it does not mean that it is going to be really busy afterwards.”
The historic market has a rich history, being the birthplace of Marks and Spencer in the 1880s.