Market trader told to remove paintings
4:31pm Friday 21st March 2008
A MARKET trader with a talent for painting has been ordered to remove his artwork from an empty stall - or pay the extra rent.
Francis Mulhearn, 76, of School Lane, Guide, Blackburn, has run a successful cosmetics stall on Blackburn Market for over 20 years.
He said he had placed the paintings on an empty stall next to his in a bid to brighten up the area.
But council bosses said Mr Mulhearn had ignored the rules and ordered him to take them down.
They said, had he talked to market bosses first, "there probably wouldn't have been a problem".
The market, which is due in two years to relocate to part of the new shopping centre being built in Church Street, currently features a number of derelict stalls.
Mr Mulhearn said he had displayed the paintings on the empty stall in a bid to generate some interest in the market.
He said managers were being unreasonable.
Mr Mulhearn, who paints and draws scenes from "olden times" in his spare time, said: "I think they could be a bit more lenient.
"Everybody should be able to display whatever they want on an empty stall.
"I wasn't selling them. I was doing it to please myself, brighten up the place and create some interest in the market.
"It seems silly they won't allow it because if you walk through and see all the empty stalls, it's terrible.
Mr Mulhearn, who only began painting again recently after a 40-year break, said market bosses needed to take "some perspective" on the matter.
He said: "All the art they're putting on roundabouts and in public places and they won't let us put it up.
"There needs to be more leniency."
His daughter, Tina, who also works on the market stall, said the paintings "created atmosphere" by attracting people.
She said: "Other market traders and customers both think it's a good idea."
But Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council leader Colin Rigby backed the market managers' decision.
He said: "Technically he's wrong to do it.
"Had he enquired about it first or talked to the market managers, there probably wouldn't have been a problem.
"He's been a trader for long enough to know the rules and he's ignored them. "