It is easy for traders to become obsessed about their role in QVM re-development but there are other major stakeholders, particularly customers, who need to be heard. Here is a letter published in Melbourne's Age newspaper.Listen to the regulars
"If
the Queen Victoria Market traders think that a bar and restaurant, a
plaza or community garden will attract more customers, they are dreaming
(''Queen Vic poised for $100m revamp'', The Saturday Age,
20/4). What attracts customers is value, service and variety, together
with accessibility. I spend about $300 at the market every week, so
anything that disrupts accessible parking, even temporarily, will
encourage me to shop elsewhere.
More
cool rooms and longer hours may be necessary ''improvements'' but if
the only way to pay for them is to destroy much of the market itself.
What
attracts tourists is the fact that it is a working market. It is also
concerning there has been no attempt to invite public discussion of the
proposed changes, nor any recognition that the market ''community'' is
more than the traders. It seems we are again seeing an attempted land
grab by developers."
Miriam Faine, Hawthorn
COMMENTS:
24/04/2013 17:31:36 customer feed back "I agree with the shopper from hawthorn.
Do a survey of the customer, see what makes come and does not , and see." Andy
28/04/2013 20:07:02 redevelopment "As the lady suggested, why haven't the council approached members of the public and regular shoppers to see what they'd like and what they suggest needs to happen. There has been no public input as yet." Leah