'Heartbroken' managers fear for market's future

"Heartbroken" managers of a 40-year-old market fear for its future after councillors approved plans to build leisure facilities in its place.

Approval was granted on Thursday for Unity Holidays to build indoor and outdoor sports facilities on the land currently occupied by Skirlington Market, in Skipsea.

However, East Riding of Yorkshire Council deferred a decision for more caravans on the site and asked the company to look at moving the market. Unity Holidays said it looked forward to clarifying the council's grounds for deferral.

Market director Tom Parry said: "I do think that if the market goes, [the area] will suffer, so to find a solution would be best for everybody."

The market is on the site of Skirlington Coast - a family holiday park that was bought by Unity Holidays last year.

In September 2025, traders were told to vacate the site after Unity Holidays submitted the plans, which included a new swimming pool and sun deck.

Dermot King, chief operating officer at the company, said at the time the decision "had not been taken lightly".

In Thursday's meeting, councillor David Nolan described the situation as a "head vs heart" issue.

He said the "logical and rational of all reports are saying this should be approved," and noted the land is no longer under control of the market.

Councillor Denise Howard pointed out the area already had a large amount of caravans and said putting any more on site would be an "overdevelopment".

She also said there would be more traffic and pressure on medical services as a result.

Market secretary Angela Parry said: "Naturally, we're heartbroken, especially for all our traders [and] our visitors who supported us over the last 40 years."

Tom Parry said the market's exit strategy would need to be discussed with Unity Holidays.

"Obviously, because we've been there 40 years and the size of the place, we can't move out tomorrow," he said.

"I would have thought that we would get the end of this season in until September, October, and then we'd have to vacate."

A spokesperson from Unity Holidays said: "We thank the council's planning committee for approving our application to redevelop the land on our park currently occupied by Skirlington Market, as well as the buildings on that land used by the market.

"We look forward to commencing work on that project as soon as possible."

The spokesperson said the company's application for more caravans was to "compensate for the loss of caravans to coastal erosion".

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