Pop-up market proposal for Exeter city centre

Entrepreneur eyes old bus station site

Exeter is in line to get a pop-up city centre market on the site of its former bus station.

Members of the city council heard that an entrepreneur had come up with proposals to set up a market on the site off Sidwell Street where the bus station was demolished last year.

Cllr Lynn Wetenhall (Green, Newton and St Leonards) reminded a meeting of the full council that having a market was the most popular option for the land, according to a recent public consultation.

Green councillors have claimed that the city council’s Labour administration just wants to have a long-term car park on the site, having already opted for a short-term car park as a way of making the site return some income while a more lasting solution is sorted out.

But council leader Phil Bialyk (Lab, Exwick) stressed that there is no desire to have the site turned over to car parking for good.

And he said: “We will, of course, consider all expressions of interest. It’s about keeping all of our options open.

“It is not the ruling group’s intention to have a permanent car park on the old bus station site. It is our intention to bring forward proposals as and when we can to make sure the city centre is developed.

“All of these things are up for discussion at the moment.”