Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Leuven is preparing for the European Running Championships, causing market relocations. Cindy, a stallholder, expresses frustration over road closures and lack of compensation, affecting her business at the Friday market.
The city of Leuven is getting ready for the European Running Championships this weekend. Because of this, the city center is changing. The race course is being set up, and a big fan village is being built on Ladeuzeplein, which is a big square in Leuven. This means the Friday market has to move.
The people who sell things at the market are upset because this isn’t the first time they’ve had to move. The market has been moved before because of events like Leuven Beach, Leuven Kermis, Unbreakable, and the Christmas Market. Officials mentioned that the square is a good place for big events. It’s hard for the people who sell things at the market when they have to move because it’s harder for people to find them.
“This is another thing,”
Says market stallholder Cindy.
“We pay a lot of market money, but half the time we are not allowed to stand in our place. And we do not get any compensation for that. Does no one ever wonder if there is another solution? It would be nice if we were taken into account a bit more.”
Will the European running championships affect Leuven’s market stallholders?
Alderman Lalynn Wadera understands that the people who sell things at the market are upset about having to move. She knows it’s not good to keep moving the market. The city wants to have weekly markets because they are important to the local businesses. But they also want to have big events because they bring in lots of people and money.
The city is trying to find a way to do both. They want to make sure the market vendors and the people who live in Leuven are happy, and they want Leuven to be a place that people want to visit.
“If they can’t get their car, they won’t take a kilo of oranges, a bouquet or meat either“
Leuven has markets on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But many people who sell things at the markets are worried about the European Running Championships. The city is closing most of the center of town on Saturday and Sunday. The cars can’t get in.
Cindy, who sells things at the market, thinks this will stop many people from selling things. She says it will be hard for people to bring their things to the market because of the road closures. Cindy is worried that the European Running Championships won’t help her business.
She thinks that the people who come to watch the races or drink at the fan village won’t be interested in buying things like fruits, flowers, or meat. She says they might come to the event, but they won’t want to carry extra things back to their cars.
She thinks that the people who usually come to the market to buy things will stay away because it will be hard to get to the market. This is a problem for the stallholders because they make their money by selling things at the market. Cindy says they work hard, and they need to make money. She is upset that the city isn’t helping the market stallholders during the event. She says they are not getting any money to help them with the problems the event is causing.
