Market help, but no rent reduction

MARKET traders will meet with councillors to discuss ways of moving forward through the credit crunch.

The initiative comes after the council considered a request from traders at the indoor market to reduce their rents by 25 per cent.

Oldham Council’s deputy leader councillor Jackie Stanton said: “The request has been considered by councillors very carefully, however while fully understanding the traders’ concerns, councillors believed that we could not agree to the request because of the financial impact it would have on the council’s budget.

“We would be keen to meet with traders at the earliest opportunity to discuss their concerns further and what support measures the council can provide to them.”