Protest planned at Northampton’s Market Square on Friday morning opposing council's move to boot traders off site

Two long-standing food trucks on Northampton’s Market Square – Ciro’s Place and Fryin’ Brian – have been given four days’ notice to leave the site by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).

On Monday, the businesses were both handed letters by an WNC employee saying they had until 8pm on Friday (April 24) to leave the Market Square for good. Both trucks have been trading on the site for decades.

The council says the move has been made as part of its drive to make Market Square “a more welcoming space” by “improving” the range and offer” as well as looking at where traders were located to reduce anti-social behaviour. The council said the decisions had been made after “careful consideration”.

The move has left the business owners "shocked and devastated” by the news, saying the decision is going to “destroy their lives”.

A petition has been launched to save the two vans. A protest is set to take place on Friday at 10am.

Speaking to Chronicle and Echo, 22-year-old food van customer Daniel Pettefor explained what the area means to him and why he is protesting.

The truck driver from Daventry said: “I’ve been going for nearly two years now. It’s not just a food van to me, it’s a place that I come to. It’s a community of people that you can talk to, it’s like your own space. I tend to get out of the house and come here to have my morning coffee. I’ll have a chat with both owners. I don’t just come here to get the food and go – there’ll be days where I’ll spend a couple of hours here and speak to people. The customers, the business owners are very friendly, very talkative, and they can help you in any way with your own problems in life. It’s very supportive. It’s a community… it’s a family area.”

He added that he was deeply affected by the council’s decision, saying: “We can’t let this go. I’m very frustrated and disappointed, very upset. In terms of anti-social behaviour being an issue, I don’t believe that’s true. It’s calm, it’s friendly, the environment is really nice. This cannot go the way the council want it to go.”

Outlining plans for the protest, he said: “We want them to stay… and get the council to hopefully change their decision. We’re going to make some signs up, some of our local community are going to make signs up. We’re just going to say ‘keep the food vans’, something along those lines. It’s going to be controlled – not one of those protests where things start getting thrown. People are aware of what it’s about. A hundred plus are expected to come.”

He added: “The other customers are very frustrated as well. If they do get their way… I won’t be going to the market ever again. I won’t be ordering from other food vans, I’ll make that clear to other people. I will always follow where you go, even if that means me driving. I will always come down and support you.”

Penning an open letter to the council, a group of customers said: “We are shocked and devastated in the way that our Council has treated these businesses, in what can only be described as a cold and heartless move to suddenly evict them and destroy their livelihoods within just four days. These two food trucks have been trading on the market for many years, staying loyal to their townsfolk and customers and even enduring the move to Commercial Street and back when the market was renovated.

“Both have been trading on the renovated market since September 2024, when they were offered the ‘Tenancy at Will’ contract, which provided little security, and were not offered thereafter any assurance of a more secure trading tenancy.

“Over time they have both built up a loyal customer base, have formed friendships and know many by names, offering not only good, reasonably priced food, but a caring supportive environment for their customers, and many times have helped people out when they are hungry or need assistance.

“To suddenly withdraw them with such short, harsh notice is devastating, not only to the owners, who will suddenly lose their livelihoods, but to the many diverse people who visit the vans and depend on the community atmosphere for companionship, support and wellbeing.”

Council comment in full

A WNC spokesman said: "The council is continually investing in Northampton Market Square and the wider town centre to ensure they remain welcoming, vibrant and appealing to residents and visitors. This includes attracting new businesses and international attractions, such as Planetarium Go!, which will be visiting Market Square this year, alongside maintaining a balanced and diverse food and drink offer. This also includes working in partnership with like-minded businesses that share our ambition to create a safe, welcoming and friendly environment in the town centre.

“The decision is primarily based on a review of the balance of traders on the Market Square as we want to improve the range and offer to create a more welcoming space. As part of this work we are also looking at where traders are located within the square to see how this might also help us reduce instances of anti-social behaviour.

“The decision followed engagement with traders and careful consideration of feedback received. The notice period given was in line with the contract and support has been offered to those traders affected, including advice and signposting to business support.”