We’ve been left out in the cold, claim traders

Reporter: BEATRIZ AYALA Pictures by DARREN ROBINSON
Date online: 13/01/2010

TRADERS at Oldham’s outdoor market have slammed Oldham Council for not supporting them in the severe weather conditions that swept the borough.

Stallholders claim they have been forced to clear snow and ice from their units every time it has snowed — with no help from the council.

The market opens on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and traders have managed to make it in and set up stall most days despite sub-zero temperatures and snow-covered stalls.

They said they were left to grit paths for customers and shovel away the snow themselves, and claim other town centre stores are getting preferential treatment.

Michael Keely (48), from Rochdale, has been trading on the Oldham outdoor market for 20 years selling cakes, biscuits and sweets.

He said: “We’ve shifted all the snow since its started falling in December.

“The council has only come round once with a wheelbarrow full of salt but that’s all.

“The lad on the fish stall has brought his own grit and we spent three hours clearing snow the other day with our shovels and brooms.

“We know the situation is bad and we’ve been told they haven’t got any grit to give us.

“But considering we pay business rates and rents to them, and considering they want to encourage more people along, it’s disgusting.

“We just get on with it but we are disappointed.”

Mary Comer (55), from Lees, has run her bedding and towels stall on the outdoor market for 30 years.

She said: “Council workers have been creating paths in front of stores in High Street and Union Street but not on the outdoor market.

“It is unfair. We should be treated exactly the same.

“We know everyone is short of grit and struggling but this is a retail business and the council should be meeting us halfway.”

Nazrul Islam (21), from Oldham, who runs a household goods and furnishings stall, said: “It snowed over Christmas and that wasn’t cleared.

“We’ve asked the market cleaners for help but they said the council hadn’t given them the right equipment.

“The traders are unhappy, it is affecting their revenues.

“We feel the council doesn’t want to bother with the outdoor market.

“We should get some rent-free days because of the snow.”

John Eatough, who has run the jacket potato stall for the past 20 years, said he understands the council’s grit restrictions but said more action should have been taken.

He said: “I understand the council was short of grit and priorities had to be made. But there seems to be different council staff looking at the same problem and nothing being done.

“However, council staff did start clearing up the snow when the market was shut on Monday.”

Councillor Mohib Uddin, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Council staff have worked hard to ensure that citizens can access the market ground by ensuring that pathways are cleared.

“The priority continues to be ensuring that trunk roads and district centres are kept open and staff have to be prioritised accordingly.

“Market staff are doing their best to clear the site and a small delivery of grit will be used as much as we can to continue to improve access.”