Gloucester Green Market is owned by Oxford City Council but operated independently by a contracted company, presently – and for the last 13 years – LSD Promotions, while the land, repairs and maintenance of the square is managed by separate company New River Retail.
A recent report presented to the council’s scrutiny committee has come with a host of traders, shoppers and business owners alleging problems with its operation from rubbish and hygiene issues to parking, the balance of market stall products and communications with the companies and council that run it.
LSD Promotions has denied any allegations being brought to them directly, and refuted complaints about rubbish, parking and pitch allocation.
Commercial waste bins full during trading hours at Gloucester Green Market (Image: David Henwood)
But several councillors reported the market traders would only speak anonymously out of fear of retribution, with councillor David Henwood saying the traders felt ‘frightened’.
Green city councillor Sushila Dhall addressed Oxford City Council’s scrutiny committee when the report on the market’s use of space, level of use and variety of vendors was presented on Tuesday, September 8.
Sushila Dhall (Image: Oxford City Council)
She said ‘traders, local businesses, market shoppers and residents of Gloucester Green’ had contacted her about Gloucester Green, ‘all unhappy’.
Traders, she said, asked to be anonymous because they were concerned ‘it would somehow come back to them’, and added that rules around paying deposits, holiday and the risk of having their stall forfeit makes traders feel as if ‘they’ve got the responsibilities of employees without the rights’.
She also claimed local business ‘have raised worries about overflowing bins at the back, rats, and parking’, as well as accessibility issues and a lack of ‘two-way communication’ with the market operator.
Traders and councillors have alleged that rubbish and waste piles up at the market during trading hours; LSD Promotions said ‘records have not identified ongoing waste-management issues’ (Image: David Henwood)
Cllr Dhall said: “The market operator needs to feel that they are part of the local community working with and to serve the local community, and not a separate entity running markets in lots of different towns with a focus on their profits.”
Speaking at the meeting, Jericho resident of 23 years Isobel Tucker said she’s been ‘disappointed’ with the way the market has been run under LSD.
She said empty stalls have started to appear on weekdays and those that remain are dominated by street food stalls, and the market management is not as ‘collaborative’ as was promised.
Gloucester Green Market is run by LSD Promotions (Image: David Henwood)
She said: “I am urging the council to consider finding another way of running this market.
“It should consider LSD’s performance over the whole period it has been operating it, not just the last few months, and at all times of year, not just the tourist season.
“This experiment with outsourcing has not worked and if it were ended, any profits could be reinvested in the market and used to benefit our local economy.
“More thought could also be given to how far this market should cater for tourists and how far it should address residents’ needs.”
Two other residents and regular market attendees addressed the scrutiny committee, both describing their view that the market has declined in recent years, with less variety of produce and more emphasis on street food.
Indeed, the scrutiny committee’s discussion revealed that 43.5 per cent of market stalls sell street food, in excess of the target balance of 33 per cent street food, 32 per cent produce and 35 per cent non-food retail.
Liberato Maioriello, co-founder and owner of Gino’s Italian which has been in Gloucester Green since 1984, said the increase in food stalls is damaging permanent restaurant businesses like his own in the square.
Liberato Maioriello (left) and Marco Maioriello, of Gino’s Italian in Gloucester Green (Image: Andy Ffrench)
He also alleged issues around LSD parking in the market area, saying cars, vans and trailers which are regularly parked in the area by the bus station are impacting the business’ appearance and access, and that nothing was done when this was raised with LSD.
Mr Maioriello said: “This is not an occasional inconvenience.
“It is an ongoing commercial issue which affects the appearance of the square, access to businesses and the visibility of established businesses around Gloucester Green.”
LSD Promotions vehicles parked next to the bus station during trading hours at Gloucester Green Market (Image: David Henwood)
Independent city councillors David Henwood and Anne Stares arranged a meeting with market traders and business owners following the meeting, to hear about market traders and business owners concerns anonymously.
David Henwood (Image: Ed Nix)
This, they said, was because the traders were ‘frightened’ by the operator, with retaliatory steps taken when complaints are made, a lack of ‘clear accountability’ and no line collective communication between LSD, the city council and New River Retail.
“It can be difficult to know which organisation is ultimately responsible for resolving issues,” Cllr Henwood said.
Because of the city centre location and permanent retailers on the square, he added, “decisions about market layout, waste, cleanliness, access and the positioning of individual traders can have consequences well beyond the market stalls themselves”.
Gloucester Green Market operator refutes allegations
LSD Promotions have refuted the complaints and said no allegations have been brought to them directly.
The market operator said traders have ‘several established channels’ for communication as well as a formal complaints procedure and a dedicated on-site manager.
Siobhan Noake, head of brand and corporate communications at LSD Promotions, said: “We take concerns about Gloucester Green Market seriously and will investigate any specific issues brought to our attention.
“We continue to invest in the market’s facilities, trader support and promotion, working with Oxford City Council to build on its progress.
“We have not been contacted directly by the councillor about these allegations, and would welcome an on-site meeting to discuss them constructively.
“We remain committed to investigating concerns fairly and working constructively with traders, residents, Oxford City Council and neighbouring businesses to ensure Gloucester Green remains a thriving, diverse and welcoming market for Oxford.”
It denied that pitch allocations are made in response to criticism or that any vehicles park in the market area during trading hours, and said investment is continually made in the market’s facilities, presentation and promotion, informed by trader feedback.
LSD said it is working on recruiting fresh produce businesses, artisan makers and independent retailers as ‘an ongoing priority’.
They added that footfall in August was up 7.4 per cent on August 2025, with Friday attendance increasing by 20.4 per cent in the same period, progress they are ‘committed to build on’.
Councillor Mark Lygo, cabinet member for a healthy, fairer Oxford, said: “We recently commissioned The Retail Group to run a trader survey at the market.
“A report is being worked on and will be published with recommendations soon, but the high response rate and overall positive feedback from traders indicates LSD Promotions’ ongoing efforts are being positively felt.
“We’re proud that Gloucester Green continues to be a thriving and diverse market which is popular with residents and visitors.”
#Traders #speak #issues #Gloucester #Green #Market