Wholesale traders at Dublin’s Victorian fruit and vegetable market have said their businesses will not survive plans to redevelop the building as a continental-style food market.

The wholesale market, between Capel Street and the Four Courts in the north inner city, has been operating since 1892. Dublin City Council intends to spend €3 million on its refurbishment and conversion so half the building can be a retail food market.

The council’s plans were last week approved by local councillors and are due to be ratified next month. However, despite making extensive submissions during the planning process, wholesalers said their concerns have been ignored.

Objection

“Every trader in there lodged an objection to the plan and nothing changed. The council isn’t interested in listening to us, because really what they’re doing is trying to squeeze us out,” Pat Martin of K&M Fruit and Veg said.

The wholesalers aren’t opposed to the introduction of retail to the market, he said, but the council’s designs were “unworkable”. Chief among traders’ concerns was the splitting of the main aisle of the building with a security barrier during the hours of retail operations.

“This turns what is now a roadway into a walkway. Once the retail is open, the wholesale is effectively closed in. There will be access to the street, but we won’t have the space we need to operate forklifts.”

The wholesale market operates from 5am to 3pm on weekdays, except Tuesday when it closes at 1pm, and from 6am to 11am on Saturdays. It is proposed the retail market would not open before 9am, but Mr Martin fears this could change if it proves successful.

Parking

The traders are also concerned about the loss of trade parking. New parking will be provided for wholesalers at the former fishmarket site, but Mr Martin said this would not compensate for the loss of the car park on Chancery Street or the removal of street parking on St Michan’s Street.

The traders have offered to move from the market if the council could provide an alternative premises.

“The council has landbanks out around the M50 and we would be prepared to move out there, but the council doesn’t want that, they want to squeeze us out and be rid of us.”

Mr Martin and the other wholesale traders are to meet councillors next Tuesday in a final attempt to reach a solution.

A council spokesman said the plan provided for the continuation of the wholesale market and those issues had been addressed.