A plum job for Home Secretary

HOME Secretary Alan Johnson has officially opened Hull's new fruit market on the same day interviews have been taking place to fill the vacant buildings in Humber Street.

West Hull and Hessle MP Mr Johnson officially opened the £3.5m Priory Market yesterday which has been running for two weeks.

Based at Priory Park East, the market's new home follows the recent move from Humber Street in the city centre.

The new market has 12 units on 70,000sqft of trading space over a four-acre site with access to the A63.

That now gives Hull Forward the chance to redevelopment Humber Street.

Chief executive John Holmes said: "We are interviewing people right now in order to fill the vacant buildings for years to come and there are some exciting possibilities.

"But it's fantastic to see the traders' enthusiasm as they move on a couple of centuries with the new facility. You can really sense the atmosphere."

Mr Johnson has been involved in the move since it was first mooted nearly 10 years ago.

He said: "There has been a lot of work to ensure this facility doesn't disrupt the lives of local residents.

"While the development of Humber Street is crucial, it is also important to keep a fruit market here.

"Since traders have been here, they have already attracted new businesses."

For more than 200 years, wholesalers have plied their trade from Hull's historic Fruit Market in Humber Street but traders are delighted to be in their new facility.

Dennis Butler, managing director of Dennis Butler Ltd, said: "This is the best thing we could have done. We have waited a long time but it's been worth it.

"It is buzzing again like it did years ago."

Local developer ispace planned each individual unit.

Richard Burns, of ispace, said: "It has been five years in the making for us and it's a very rewarding development for us.

"It's given the traders new energy which is the key point for us."