A butcher says he is losing business because the council won’t let him pitch his van with the rest of the outdoor market stalls on Castle Street.
The market was moved from Churchill Way car park five years ago, but Craig Boardman, who has traded there for 13 years, couldn’t join them because he sold from a van. Now he is there on his own.
He said: "I want to be on Castle Street with the rest of the market traders. "They wanted us to work off a stall – but you can’t sell meat from a stall, we need refrigerated counters.
"I’m the only one on the car park – it’s not ideal because there is no footfall, everyone coming to the market goes to Castle Street."
Craig, who lives in North Wales and travels to Macclesfield three times a week, was recently given a four-week trial on Castle Street by the council, but asked to leave again after nearby businesses complained. He said: "We’ve been fighting for years to get on Castle Street and after a lot of pestering they eventually allowed us to go up there.
"I spent £2,500 on a new generator which is really quiet to try and help, but now I’ve been thrown off again and sent packing back to the car park."
A spokeswoman for Cheshire East Council said: "We received a number of complaints about the position of the meat wagon from nearby businesses. The complaints and the fact that Castle Street is strictly pedestrianised were the reasons for this decision. We have suggested a position which is just 20 metres from Castle Street."
She added: "Trying to balance the needs of traders and retain the characteristics of our streets is always a challenge."
