A FORMER market trader has responded to Barnsley Council’s ban on traders selling smoking-related products by setting up her own shop.
Marie Stocks formerly ran Fags and Swags in Barnsley Market, which sold a large variety of smoking products and accessories. However, with the opening of the new market last week and the council’s decision to ban traders from selling items related to smoking, Marie decided to close her stall and move into a new shop.
This is because, while traders have been banned from selling the products, which include tips, papers and lighters, shops such as Poundland can continue to sell them a decision which has led to criticism.
Marie, 54, from Shafton, said: “We’ve been fighting it for 12 months now, and we have fought and fought until the end. “We have had to do it because they won’t let us in the new market and I would be on the dole. It would take my livelihood away. “They said they would help me to diversify but I can’t do that when I’ve been trading for so many years.”
Marie has opened a new shop, Aladdin’s Cave, on the site of what was formerly Mad Mix on Albert Street.
She said she did not make the move as a protest against the council, but as a necessary way to continue her business and a gesture to her customers that she would not be forced to close.
“Our customers have all been outraged about the council throwing us out. They have all been looking for me everywhere.”
