Unhappy that Salamanca Market was cancelled, flower stallholder Lisa Kingston, of Woodbridge, decided to trade from the back of her van. Pictures: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES
HIGH winds battered southern Tasmania yesterday, resulting in road closures, police warnings for motorists and the cancellation of the popular Salamanca Market.
The Hobart City Council's decision to call off yesterday's market disrupted the plans of stallholders and customers alike.
Council general manager Nick Heath made the decision after the forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology predicted destructive winds, with gusts expected to exceed 100km/h.
"We have not taken this decision lightly and have cancelled the market because the current forecast weather conditions are seen to pose a threat to the safety of the public, stallholders and the market crew," he said.
The stallholders had been informed by text message where possible, and also by the council's market crew.
But many vendors and customers were left perplexed by the council's cautious decision.
"We live in Tasmania, and it is windy here. I think it's paranoia," said flower seller Lisa Kingston, of Woodbridge, who had set up her van outside Knopwoods Retreat to try to salvage her day's trade.
"The market's other flower people have gone home and I've discounted everything.
"Other stallholders have come and supported me, which is fantastic."
Marie Van Degumster, of the Summer Kitchen Organic Bakery, said the council was treating stallholders like children.
"This is an absolute disaster. I have a bakery full of product that I can't sell," she said.
"There's no way I can recoup our money."
As well as perplexed interstate and overseas visitors, local regular Susie Riddich said the market's cancellation had ruined her entertaining plans.
"I'm devastated," she said. "I was here to get fruit and vegetables for my dinner party.
"Now I'm really stuck. I buy vegetables from the Hmongs very week. The opportunity is gone now.
"I'm going back to the UK next week and was also here to buy presents."
But Salamanca Stallholders Association president Kerry O'Rourke said he was "100 per cent behind the council's decision".
"If the council knew about the wind forecast and someone got injured, there'd be real trouble," he said.
Mr O'Rourke said he understood the frustration of some vendors who relied on the Saturday market for their income but the decision to close the market was about protecting people and property.
"The council are just doing it to protect us," he said.
The blustery conditions also caused the closure of the Brooker Highway, after winds downed a light pole over the road at 5pm.
Police also urged caution at Midway Point, with winds driving water over the causeway.
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