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Market traders plead for credit crunch aid
Reporter: Marina Berry
Date online: 30 March 2009
TOMMYFIELD traders believe Oldham’s once world-famous market could disappear unless they are thrown a lifeline.
Stallholders made a desperate plea to the council to cut their rents by a quarter as they battle to survive the credit crunch.
But four months on they are still waiting for correspondence on the issue or a meeting with Oldham council, and found out only through a report in the Evening Chronicle that rents will not be cut.
Deaf ears
Justin Brierley, chairman of the Tommyfield Market Traders’ Association, said stallholders were “disappointed” to learn their plea had fallen on deaf ears, particularly as it came second-hand through the columns of the Chronicle.
He said traders needed help, and some were already considering cutting the size of their stalls, saying once stalls started becoming empty they became harder to relet.
Mr Brierley said rents at neighbouring Tameside and Bury markets are a fraction of those charged at Oldham, and all traders wanted was a temporary drop until trade begins to pick up.
Feelings are so high, traders are considering withholding 25 per cent of their monthly rental payments from the beginning of May.
They are being balloted on their views, and the 99 per cent of traders who have so far replied are in favour.
Mr Brierley, from the shoe and slipper stall on the indoor market, said his monthly rent of £2,152 to Oldham was way above the £845.76 a month he pays at Ashton for a stall only slightly smaller.
“We believe we have a great market, we were voted second best indoor market in the country last year, and we want to keep stallholders here,” he said.
“We pay the highest rents per square foot in the North-West, and we think we deserve a bit of help when times are hard.
“Without it there will be a cut-off point when it just isn’t worthwhile to carry on.”
Philip Armitage, has had a carpet stall on the indoor market for more than 30 years, said: “We are all having a hard time and the council doesn’t help us in any way at all.”
And Trish Guiney, from M&M Toys added: “These are unusual circumstances, and if the council doesn’t help, more and more traders will leave Tommyfield.
“If enough people are affected, the market will shrink and there won’t be enough of us left for the market to survive.”
John Hurst, executive director for environmental services, invited traders to contact him to set up a meeting with councillors.
Comments
i agree with you Curly but since when did the council in their ivory tower listen to the rest of us ? Walking thru Oldham today my thoughts were "what a miserable empy place this is when Ashton, Bury and Rochdale are buzzing with shoppers.
Whilst I am sorry for the traders, I do not wish to pay any additional council tax towards the market (or any other shopping facility) in Oldham. It isn't the council who pay, it is the tax payers and the council tax payers. If Ashton has a good market for traders and customers - then shop in Ashton.
Oldham Councillors have no shame! Nor have they any brains, ideas, plans, talent, or vision. They are a fourth rate mob running a third rate town. Just listen to the daily outpourings of vainglorious tripe from these masters of disaster, as the town disintegrates around them. So absorbed are they, in pursuing their ego trips and their allowances and free junkets, they cannot see the damage inflicted on this once pleasant town. Expect nowt! There's no kudos in it for them.
it's such a shame tommyfield was part of our heritage i say was because we just hav'nt got a market anymore our heritage has been given away now all the Oldhamers have got is rubbish
Get It Right, you are missing the point here. What would happen if these traders packed up and left Tommyfield Market? There is nobody coming in to replace them therefore no rent money coming in to pay for the council workers pension pot!!! So who makes up the shortfall? It comes round to you, Get It Right to dip into your pocket and tip up a bit more. Another classic example of Oldham Council financial mismanagement!!!
Get it right, I work in Ashton so I do shop there. Would shop in Oldham too but why should I when Ashton has much more choice, the Market is second to none and Tameside dont charge half as much for parking. Someone from the Ivory tower should hop on the 409 and take a look at how a town centre should be.
Mikejh45, it will take more than market rents to pay for the council workers pension pot. Financial mismanagement?You ain't seen nothing yet!
Ruffyed! I agree with you entirely regarding mismanagement. Market traders rents are the tip of a very large iceberg. The whole council pyramid needs root and branch reform and get back to financing it's core duties. I find it amazing that the people at the bottom are the ones being made redundant but more managers are being recruited.
Have Your Say
Oldham Council should hang their heads in shame!. Over the past 30 years, they`ve ruined our once famous market by outpricing traders. Just goes to show why Ashton Market is so popular with shoppers, Tameside Council looks after its traders and make it a more attractive place to shop. OMBC take note before it`s too late!.
By Curly K @ 30/03/2009 13:40:20