Community campaigner Jean Goodison is on the warpath again – refusing to be cold-shouldered over the broken heating at Huddersfield’s Queensgate Market.
Jean was left fuming when she heard that traders at the town’s indoor market had been left shivering in a row with Kirklees Council.
Now Jean, a regular on the market, has started a petition to put the heat under council bosses.
Her petition demands the council finds an “immediate solution” to the problem.
Former union official Jean, who is also a volunteer for Better Future for the Blind, visits the market almost every day with those she helps.
Disgruntled Jean said: “We must get something done because the cold is simply driving away customers and they are leaving poor shop staff in the cold.
“I’ve spoken to many people who are not happy with the situation, including some of those who I take into there to go shopping.
“I’d like to get at least 500 signatures but ideally 1,000 so that it makes the council finally sit up and listen.”
A lack of heating has been plaguing the market for almost two years, since its underfloor heating began to fail.
Other shoppers are also feeling the chill and one of them, David Crowther, said: “It’s so cold and you have to wear several layers while shopping. The cold certainly doesn’t make you want to hang around.”
Market traders, who pay a service charge to the council, spoke out in the Examiner.
They said the temperature dipped as low as 8C (46F) and business had suffered.
Kirklees Council says it has ‘no legal obligation’ to provide a specified level of heating in the market but was working with traders to find a ‘more effective’ solution.
