Dear Sir,
I have read all the comments in the Newton News regarding our Tuesday town market and I agree totally with what has been said.
I would like to put my view, as I see the situation, and ask the question, Did the town centre manager know what was going to happen to the stall holders? If so why did he not come clean right from the start instead of telling them they were not allowed to go back into the centre because the work had not been passed and there was work still to be done? Did he dangle the stall holders on a string or was it a stalling tactic or was he under instructions from the owners?
I also ask the question, did our MP know anything about this, if so why did he not try to do something?
Where were our councillors on this matter? (Silly question)
As for the centre being “dirty” it’s not the stallholders that make it dirty as they always clean up after the market has finished and they take all their rubbish away. If it is a case of damaging the paving, than the blocks should have been laid on a harder surface instead of sharp sand.
I am of the opinion, that If the market does go then I think, over time, we will see a lot more shops close as there are not a lot of shoppers in the town centre through the week but a lot of shoppers on a market day. People come from all the outlying areas, and this will be lost to the town and most important the shopkeepers.
There are markets at Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Ferryhill and Darlington to name but a few, so why can’t Newton Aycliffe keep theirs? Why doesn’t Freshwater come to Newton Aycliffe and tell the people the truth. (don’t hold your breath).
If the market does go will Freshwater compensate the shopkeepers for their loss and reduce the high rents they charge for them – I don’t think so!
It is my opinion there is more to this than meets the eye. It is my view that the owners (Freshwater) want rid of the market so that when the work is all completed the centre can be put up for sale.
I hope this isn’t the case and I hope I am proved wrong and only time will tell.  There are a lot of questions to be asked and a lot of answers given.
Yours sincerely
Mr Maurice Reeve