Tron kirk traders call for meeting over Harry Potter shop plans

MARKET traders have demanded a meeting with the movie mogul who wants to transform their base into a film shop.

Tron Kirk

Stall-holders in the Tron Kirk have written to Rick Senat – the producer behind the plans – amid fears they will be ousted from the Royal Mile landmark with the loss of more than 60 jobs.

The chairman of the London Film Museum in Covent Garden wants to transform the venue into a shop selling film merchandise though the idea is in the “very early stages”.

Tron lease-holder David Coutts has written to Mr Senat – who has worked on the likes of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – asking him to meet with traders in the hope he will change his mind.The businessman acting for the stall-holders has also offered to pay for Mr Senat to visit the city and to help him find an alternative base. He said: “I will go with a group of traders and ask that Rick understands the strength of local feeling around the Tron. We will look to meet at Covent Garden over the next two weeks.

Harry Potter tours have been taking place in Edinburgh due to the popularity of the series. Picture, Toby Williams

“We will ask him to withdraw his interest in the church and look elsewhere in the city.

“There are plenty of other suitable properties for his proposed use and undoubtedly the product will be another bonus for visitors to the city. He can do this without incurring local wrath and putting over 60 people out of work.”

Mr Senat is yet to respond to concerns raised by traders from the Tron, now home to a Victorian market of 12 stall-holders.

It is also used as a Fringe venue but the lease expires at the end of the month.

Disgruntled stall holders at The Tron market who are not pleased about the possibility of a Harry Potter stall muscling in on proceedings.

Stall-holders have sought legal advice and wish to make a deputation to the council’s finance and resources committee when it meets next Thursday. It was rumoured that the plans included a Harry Potter Shop similar to the one in Kings Cross Station but Warner Brothers denied this.

However, Mr Senat is a partner in the literary agency that represents Harry Potter author JK Rowling, as well as a director of Pottermore Ltd and a former boss at Warner Brothers, which produced the hit films.

Mr Coutts has a rolling lease with the city council pending the agreement of a long-term deal with Edinburgh World Heritage Trust for the Tron’s redevelopment.