A long-standing Nottingham Victoria Centre Market stallholder says she has been forced to take out her pension early as she blasted Nottingham City Council over repeated delays on its future. The authority said it may bring an end to the market’s lease in a bid to save £39m over 50 years.
"It's just ridiculous, they've dragged it on and if I'd have finished in September instead of waiting to get compensation which doesn't seem to be coming, I could've got a job in Aldi filling up the shelves for £10.50 an hour. Instead I'm sitting here like an idiot, I just feel very, very angry now because I'm wasting my life.
However, she says the Labour-run authority, which was recently criticised by the government on the issue, has not been in communication with her. "When you're told you're closing down you don't go out and buy stock, therefore you don't take any money," said Ms Lilley.