As a permanent stallholder for more than 10 years at The Cargo Shed I wish to let the people of Tauranga know why we closed. When the shed became known as The Arts Market @ The Cargo Shed the council did not subsidise us in any way.

Not only did we pay rent and spend about $20,000, as a group we paid 10 per cent of the profit back into the council coffers. We paid rates even though the land and building has no title - not sure how they came up with a figure - plus power, water, insurance, security, cleaning and maintenance. We were completely self-sufficient no council or rate payer input.

Vacation notice came from TCC property portfolio manager Sarah Alexander. The elected councillors did not know anything until we advertised we were closing. I'm fielding calls daily from people who are reading our prepaid advertisements at motels and hotels.

Yes, we turned down the offer for town premises. Why? No parking - especially for cruise ship and other tour busses. Rental only offered weekly, yet the shop has been empty for nearly year, and who wants a night club next door?

This has happened right at the start of the summer tour season. We were a drawcard to tourists, local and overseas as all our goods being New Zealand-made. Yes, we are very unhappy. Apparently, there has been no resource consent applied for yet alone given for this $1.5 million rebuild of the seaward wall.

Brenda Butler, former Cargo Shed manager.

Editor's note: Please read the story to find out more about the closure and the council's response to the situation.

http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/136728-artisans-want-cargo-shed-back.html