Trade fees could stall markets

A SMALL-BUSINESS owner has warned it is not just voluntary and charity groups that will be affected if the council refuse to make exemptions on their new policy of charges for stalls at markets.

Kerri Roberts claims she might be forced to stop running her markets altogether if they don’t become more lenient.

Kerri runs the monthly Kids Car Boot held at Saddleworth School with business partner Steve Winfield, when visitors make donations of unwanted clothes and toys to children’s charity Barnardo’s.

Since Oldham Council announced that voluntary and charity groups would be forced to pay £40 to host 20 stalls at temporary markets and car boot sales — plus £2 for every extra stall — Kerri fears the car boot sale will have to shut as they do not make enough profit to cover the costs.

Kerri said: “Until now we have benefited from the fee exemptions, because we have charity and community elements. But we can no longer keep putting money in to subsidise the fees.

“While we understand that the council may need to charge fees to cover its administrative costs, our objection is that the ‘one size fits all’ fee level penalises small start-up businesses like ours.”

The council has told Kerri it will not be willing to make exceptions or variations.

Councillor Jean Stretton said: “There are costs to the council in administering applications. Given the scale of cuts imposed on the council by central government we have to cover these costs. ”

Lib-Dem councillors have begun a petition to oppose the plans for the fees.