Market traders plead for credit crunch aid

Market traders on Tommyfield Market protest about the rent compared to markets in other towns. Left to right, Justin Brierley, Phil Armitage, Trish Guiney, Abid Mahmood, Andrew Mellor.

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.