Doncaster Council hits back at "drop in the ocean" claims over Mexborough market investment

The 25-year, £6.2 million agreement proposed between Doncaster Council and private firm Market Asset Management would see just 2p spent on Mexborough for every £1 on Doncaster’s facilities.

But the council has now revealed that it has £393,000 of local authority cash earmarked for improvements to Mexborough Market, on top of the £130,000 allocated under the MAM deal.

The council said: “Mexborough Market will become the heartbeat of Mexborough town centre thanks to the appointment of an expert operator, significant investment and a fresh and ambitious vision for its future.

“In the next five years, approaching £500,000 will be spent by Doncaster Council and the planned new operator Market Asset Management (Doncaster) Ltd (MAM).

“The council has allocated £393,000 to undertake a raft of improvements to the market and fish market.

“The money will be spent on essential roof repairs, external decoration, an internal refurbishment and important electrical works.”

This does not include MAM’s proposed £90,000 for further improvements including redecoration, better lighting and new outdoor market signs and £40,000 on “surveys and enablement”.

MAM’s aim was “to create a vibrant destination, improve the customer experience and provide a road map for the Mexborough community to become entrepreneurs”, the council said.

The council’s cabinet agreed to appoint MAM as the new operator of Mexborough and Doncaster Markets for a 25-year period last month, but the decision has been “called-in” by councillors, meaning it will be subject to further scrutiny and has yet to be formally approved. 

Mexborough First councillor Bev Chapman, who branded the proposed MAM investment in Mexborough “a drop in the ocean” when it was first announced, said: “While we welcome much needed and overdue investment in our indoor and fish market, it is still not clear how and if this investment is deliverable.

“We have wider concerns, not just for Mexborough but for the whole markets estate, especially given the desire to appoint an external company to run our markets for the next 25 years.

“There are still a considerable and significant number of unanswered questions which must be addressed through the call-in process which Mexborough First and other parties are currently progressing.”