Priced out of the market

UNITED . . . traders (from left) Michael Jackson, Dave Allen, Brett Baxter, Dorothy McHugh, Donald McEwan, Chris Madden and Sue Lane

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Struggling stall-holders plea for council help to lower rent

TRADERS are quitting Shaw Market every week — leaving it half the size and struggling to survive.

Stall-holders are urging residents to support them amid fears the steep decline of the once-thriving Thursday market will consign it to history.

They blame extortionate rents and a lack of support and promotion from Oldham Council. For the last few months, some have not even earned enough to pay the stall rent. Many have become casual traders and some have switched to Ashton.

One fruit and veg stall — paying £135 in rent per day — closed last year after pleas for a reduction were ignored.

“You have to sell a lot of fruit and veg to make that,” said John McHugh, who helps wife Dorothy run a bakery stall.

“People have been priced out. In 30 years, this is the worst it’s ever been. The market is now a ghost town. Bolton, Bury and Ashton markets are doing a bomb because they have spent money on them.”

Vera Mortiboys, who has run a meat stall for 10 years, said: “We’ve been struggling for the last six months. There won’t be a future the way it’s carrying on.

“There have been a lot leaving. Three went last week and before Christmas, another few went. The market’s shrunk by half in 12 months.”

Sue Lane, who sells ladies underwear, said: “It was bustling but it’s dreadful now with hardly any traders. The market needs promoting and if something doesn’t happen soon we can’t carry on.

“I feel that the council wants to close this place down because we are not getting any help whatsoever.

“It would be better to reduce rents rather than have empty stalls and no rent. If you look at all the closed units you can’t blame people for not shopping here.

“The traders want this market to stay and I’m sure there’s people in Shaw that want the market.”

Another trader added: “We are at our wits’ end. It doesn’t look nice when stalls are empty.

“It used to be a good little market. It’s going the same way as Tommyfield and the feeling is the council doesn’t want the market.”

Former parish councillor Val Pemberton, a long-running supporter of the market, said: “We used to have a brilliant market years ago but it has been going downhill for a long time.

“There’s not a diversity of products and the rents are extortionate. People can’t afford it. If they had proper backing from Oldham Council and less rent it would help.”

Some traders desperate to survive were keen to switch to Royton Market — but were told they’d have to pay £30 a year for a casual traders’ card which used to be free.

They would then have to wait until 9am to see if a stall is available, despite the fact it can take two hours to set up. The gloom follows anger at the decline of Oldham’s Tommyfield outdoor market with council chiefs devising a plan to transform it.

Ashton’s historic indoor market hall recently re-opened after a £16million restoration scheme following a fire, while other markers also have cheaper rents over winter.

Oldham Council’s Cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, Councillor Mark Alcock, said he was aware of the concerns and eager to find ways to enhance and reinvigorate Oldham’s markets.

He said the “Think Local… Shop Shaw” campaign promoted the great value in using local shops and markets, including reduced travel and environmental impact.