Councillor Angela O’Leary backs Frankton Market
As the stoush between Forlongs and the Frankton Market heads to court, a Hamilton city councillor has weighed in.
The on-going battle between the Frankton Market and Forlongs has left Hamilton City Councillor Angela O’Leary disappointed the popular community market may close after 25 years of operation.
Forlongs has challenged the legality of the Frankton Market under the current Hamilton City District Plan, and O’Leary said the council had been served with notice that it will be second respondent in the Environment Court.
O’Leary has worked closely with Frankton and the market for about five years. “I am deeply disappointed that rather than engage and work alongside the market, Mr Forlong has instead chosen to drive a wedge between himself and the business community down there,” O’Leary said.
“I think any time that people take the step to go to court it becomes serious. I know that the market operator and the [Frankton Business] Association don’t have the funds to fight a court battle,” she said.
Forlongs has been concerned about the impact on its business due to the market, which runs each Saturday from 8am-1pm.
Limited car parking for Forlongs customers and increased shoplifting are some of the issues the business says it faces each Saturday.
O’Leary has been a Frankton advocate for most of her six years on council and she believes Forlongs would have been better off spending their time and money working with the market rather than against.
She said the market has done everything possible to try to help mitigate Forlongs’ concerns.
Forlongs said it was unable to comment on the issue for legal reasons.
The conflict started in about 2010 when Forlongs director Terence Forlong declared his concern about the market leading to increased shoplifting in his store.
The market itself began when Terrence’s father Ivan Forlong and other Frankton retailers wanted to bring more customers to the suburb.
Frankton Market co-ordinator Vinod Bhikha will hold a meeting with Frankton businesses on Tuesday to discuss what is happening.
The market has community and citywide support. “I think [Forlongs] are in for a bit of a battle from the people of Hamilton,” O’Leary said.
