Buxton Vendors Given Short Notice to Move for Road Project

Dozens of vendors, most of them women and single parents who depend entirely on their small stalls for a living, have been told they will soon have to relocate to make way for the continuation of roadworks along the Railway Embankment in Buxton.

The announcement came after Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, visited the area on Friday with his technical team to inspect the site earmarked for transformation into a new market tarmac. The vendors, many of whom have operated there for years, say they were given little time to prepare for the move.

While the government has promised improved conditions at the new location — including modern stalls, washroom facilities, and adequate lighting — feelings among vendors are mixed. Many say they are uncertain whether these promises will materialize, pointing to what they describe as the government’s track record of not keeping commitments or allowing projects to deteriorate over time.

Minister Edghill told vendors the land belongs to the government and falls under the jurisdiction of the Buxton-Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). He added that 42 vendors have already been identified for relocation and requested that the group select representatives to speak on their behalf.

According to the minister, the project should be completed within three weeks. “You’re going to continue to vend until the tarmac is completed, and then we’ll transition. I’ll come back within three weeks, which will take us to the end of November, and you will have your facility for Christmas,” he assured.

However, several vendors expressed quiet frustration, noting that vending is their only source of income and that the short timeline leaves them little room to adjust. For many single mothers who rely on daily sales to feed their families, even a brief disruption poses serious hardship.

During his visit, Minister Edghill also spoke with residents whose properties fall within the path of the ongoing road-widening project, informing them that their structures would need to be removed in the coming week to allow the works to proceed.