Calls for a “thorough investigation” have emerged following significant delays in awarding the lease for Gloucester’s Hempsted Meadows car boot site. Last week, Gloucester City Council announced Capital Boot Sales as the new operator, raising hopes that the site could become one of the most significant car boot venues in the country.
The lease covers the site off David Hook Way and was awarded after a council-led marketing process. Capital Boot Sales, which also runs car boot sales in Essex, Hertfordshire, and North London, will not only operate year-round car boot sales but also plans to introduce music events, drive-in cinemas, and outdoor fitness classes to the site.
Applicants for the lease were required to submit detailed annual business plans demonstrating their capability to manage the land, comply with planning conditions, oversee event marshalling, handle waste and fly-tipping, and maintain the site’s standards.
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While the Conservative opposition at North Warehouse welcomed the lease award, they criticized the lengthy delay under the current Liberal Democrat administration. The Conservative group, which launched the lease process in February 2024 to secure long-term stability for both residents and traders, expressed frustration at the over one-year timeline, calling for a full investigation into how the process was handled.
Stephanie Chambers, Conservative group leader for Quedgeley Fieldcourt, stressed the importance of swift action: “We understood from the outset how important this issue was to the community. That’s why we acted early to ensure consistency and clarity by issuing a decision for a long lease.” She added that the prolonged uncertainty was avoidable and disruptive.
Councillor Andrew Gravells (Abbeydale) echoed these concerns, describing the drawn-out process as an unnecessary source of stress for site users. “This should have been a straightforward task,” he said. “We are pleased this matter is resolved and hope future processes are handled more efficiently to prevent similar issues.”
Cllr Victoria Miller (Quedgeley Fieldcourt), chair of the audit and governance committee, highlighted the need for transparency. “We will be carefully reviewing the process and will publish our findings once all relevant information has been gathered and assessed.”
On the other side, Declan Wilson, Resources Cabinet Member and representative of the Liberal Democrats, defended the careful approach. “We are pleased the lease is now finalised, allowing the much-missed Gloucester Car Boot Sale to return. Our community has been calling for this, and we worked hard to deliver it,” he said.
Wilson emphasized that the lease’s long-term nature demands a thorough process to ensure value for taxpayers and a well-run, safe, and community-focused operation. “The new operator’s plans for music events, cinema screenings, and outdoor fitness sessions will help more residents enjoy the space,” he added.
Council Leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) echoed this message, calling criticism from the Conservatives nothing more than political point-scoring. Hilton recalled previous failures under past administrations, such as a costly Westgate Car Park deal and issues with Marketing Gloucester and the Club at Tuffley, which resulted in high taxpayer expenses.
“We have taken the time to do things properly,” Hilton said. “Gloucester is better off for it.”