Angry residents in Kinross believe they have been used as “scapegoats” for the decision to close the popular market.
A notice distributed among traders by Scottish Motor Auction (SMA) Group suggested complaints from homeowners were among the reasons behind the closure, along with increased planning and operating requirements.
However, Paul Cormack, who lives directly opposite the Bridgend site, told The Courier that, to his knowledge, there were no problems raised by him or his neighbours in recent years.
He said: “The market has just had its licence renewed for about three years for the Saturday and Sunday events and there were no objections.
“If we had any problems with them, then somebody would have objected to it. Everyone was happy enough with the extension as we had built up quite a good relationship with the traders.
“Now with this flyer claiming that we have made complaints, it has left us feeling very vulnerable and angry.”
Although Mr Cormack has raised issues regarding the market in the past, with traders arriving at unsociable hours, he said this had long been resolved and nothing had arisen since.
He is now demanding answers about the decision and has made several unsuccessful efforts to contact SMA for clarification.
Mr Cormack has made efforts to pacify stallholders by putting residents’ views across and, while most have been understanding, he claimed that others were openly hostile.
When he went over to the market to speak to traders, he was forced to leave the site for fear that the situation would get out of control.
He has since spoke to event organiser Iqbal Choudry, who has already speculated that the market is being closed down to allow SMA to carry out weekend car auctions, although this has never been confirmed.
The Courier has tried to get in touch with SMA on several occasions but the company has yet to issue a response.
There are now only two weeks left until Kinross Market which has been held every week for the last 30 years closes its doors for the last time at its current venue.