Byron Shire mayor Simon Richardson has claimed that negotiations are progressing with market stallholders on the Butler Street Reserve.
With a looming Byron Bay paid parking scheme, Byron Shire Council has earmarked the location as all day parking.
But the plans have met fierce resistance, with stallholders claiming there has been no choice and that other locations are unsuitable.
Now Cr Richardson claims, ‘A lower grade car park at the Butler Street Reserve will be constructed in an effort to support longer term tenure for the Byron Community Markets.’
‘We’re now working towards a plan for the site to co-exist as a public car park while continuing to accommodate the community markets and making the site even better for markets with more trees to be planted and better access.
‘The new agreement will allow the community market to stay in place while we assess the level of use for the car park during the period following the commencement of paid parking in December.’
And while Community Markets manager Tess Cullen and the North Coast Market Stallholder Association welcomed the decision another group, the Rainbow Region Stallholders Association, are still unhappy.
A statement to The Echo reads in part, ‘Both [the Byron Bay Community Centre and Council] seem to be acting in concert to place their own agendas above the financial wellbeing of all stallholders. This could explain why we have a PR campaign instead of genuine consultation.’
They added they look forward to all parties arriving at a mutually beneficial outcome.
Mayor Richardson says discussions with the Byron Bay Farmers Markets ‘are still ongoing’.
Byron could actually be a pretty cool town to visit… If only it was pedestrian-ised!
Rainbow Region Stallholders Association continue to call it exactly as it is!
RRSA. please maintain the pressure on the barstewards, for as long as it takes or until they shape up and act with transparency and honesty.