East Yorkshire institution Skirlington Market is set to close after 40 years under new development plans. The popular market has been a weekend fixture at Skirlington Coast holiday park, taking place every Sunday alongside its equally popular car boot.
The leisure park was acquired just last year by Unity Holidays, who have big plans to spend millions on a revamp, including a new swimming pool and sun deck, which would take the market’s place.
Plans lodged with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council outline that the new development would see a brand new outdoor lido and splash park on the site where the market currently resides, which currently attracts up to 15,000 people during peak season.
Additionally, the new plans hope to bring a new ‘Festival Garden’ to the park, with new food and drink options, enhanced play areas for children, a dog agility park, and even a marquee for archery. The existing tavern and swimming pool are also set for a facelift.
The plans aim to bring Skirlington up to date with other premier holiday destinations in the UK, and will mark the most significant renovation the park has ever seen.
Skirlington Market has been a staple of the community for four decades, with many visitors coming during holidays to the coast over the years. Director of the market, Tom Parry, continues to fight against the plans that threaten the livelihoods of those who trade on the market, reports the BBC. COO of Unity Holidays, Dermot King, however, believes the site is better used for the new development plans, which will drive greater footfall to the coast and provide more employment opportunities for locals.
Traders at the market and regular visitors are currently petitioning to save the market, defending the space as “a cornerstone of life in East Yorkshire”, adding that “Closing Skirlington Market and Carboot would devastate livelihoods, harm East Yorkshire’s tourism economy and take away part of what makes our area special. It would be like taking the seafront away from Bridlington.”
Over 3,700 people have signed the petition so far.
Unity Holidays’ plans are pending consideration by the council.
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