LETTER: Holbeach residents did not accept market move without protest

I agree with much of Mrs Woolard’s letter (March 16) – Holbeach is struggling! However, I take great exception to her comment that “Holbeach appeared to accept the decision without protest”.

I do not believe Mrs Woolard attended the public meeting at the Methodist Church on August 15, 2016, where the room provided in accordance with South Holland District Council (SHDC) wishes was nowhere near big enough for the vast number of concerned Holbeach residents and traders who attended.

The strength of feeling was huge and unanimous, no one wanted the market to move to Boston Road and no one wanted the entrance to Boston Road car park from Boston Road to be closed.
A number of positive and sensible suggestions were made but we, the electorate, were treated with contempt by Councillor Gambba-Jones at the meeting and the promise (in writing by email) from the SHDC to keep me as a resident informed of the progress of the survey and report has never happened.

I have chased SHDC to find out what is happening but this problem has been buried by SHDC.
Apparently, a report was sent to Holbeach Parish Council but again, the electorate were not deemed worthy of seeing this. So, as I have said, SHDC have buried the market and the car park access irrespective of the huge opposition of Holbeach residents.

To rub salt into the wound, the Saturday market appears on many occasions to only have one stall! The stallholder who caused all of the furore cannot be bothered to turn out.

I hope, Mrs Woolard, that you mean Holbeach Parish Council and not the residents of Holbeach accepted this decision without protest. We still strongly disagree with this dictatorial approach but have no elected representatives willing to fight our cause.

Stephen Cole
Wheatsheaf Close
Holbeach