Retailer: Market solution is illegal

Terry Forlong. Photo / Supplied

The owner of Frankton's biggest shop, who is battling a new Saturday market, believes a compromise plan for the two enterprises is against the law.

The dispute between the Frankton Business Association, which runs the markets, and Forlongs is continuing after retailer Terry Forlong got legal advice which said the interim solution to keep Commerce St open on Saturday mornings with stalls on the footpaths and parallel carparks was illegal.

Mr Forlong rejected claims he wanted the markets to move from Frankton.

He said he would be happy to have the markets running on Commerce St between Kent St and High St on the road and footpaths, and for stalls to be on the southern side of Commerce St.

He did not want any stalls outside his shop.

"I'm happy for the markets to stay there and we've tried to compromise."

He also thought the business association's latest compromise to keep the seven carparks outside his shop clear would not not make a difference because there were 40 carparks on the stretch of road running alongside his furnishings store.

The Commerce St entrance of the shop remained closed at the weekend despite him saying he would open.

But Frankton Business Association chairwoman Edwyna Carlson said Mr Forlong was refusing to compromise.

"For me, no matter what we do, Terry is never going to be happy. The way I see it is we have done nothing but compromise and Terry hasn't come up with anything.

"I don't think he will be happy until the markets are run out of Frankton."

She said she was fed up attending council-mediated meetings as they were "going around in circles" and planned to leave the decision with the council.

Councillor Dave Macpherson said it was time for Forlongs to accept that the markets were not moving.

"I think the local shopkeepers and the markets have bent over backwards to compromise for Forlongs and it's time for them to back down and let the Saturday markets remain."

Despite an earlier council resolution to trial the shared space concept from March, Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker unsuccessfully tried last week to get the parties to come up with a compromise acceptable to both.

Ms Hardaker could not be reached for comment last night and both parties were waiting to hear back from the council on the next step.