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Vol 25 l Issue 31
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STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE: TRADERS FEAR FOR FUTURE OF INDOOR MARKET Report by Danielle Thompson
SEFTON Council has slashed rents for new traders at the town’s struggling indoor market. The move comes amid increasing concern over the low number of traders at the market - the Champion can reveal that stall occupancy levels are now less than a third of what they should be. Market traders contacted The Champion to flag up their worries saying ‘impossible’ trading conditions have forced many stallholders to pack up and leave with just 13 out of a potential 40 units currently occupied. Traders have identified a raft of problems which are plaguing the site including a lack of passing trade, high rates, increasing costs and a lack of promotion, extreme heat in the summer and cold conditions in the winter, . Council bosses responded to their concerns by saying they have just co-ordinated a year long marketing campaign to help attract businesses to the market and a rental incentive/reduction scheme is in place on a number units, while ventilation windows have been repaired to aid air flow. Helen Nesta the owner of the Mad Hatters Tea Room, told the Champion she has been trading at the market for more than three and a half years. She said: “The biggest problem that we have is a lack of footfall. The coaches with people on day trips used to all stop off outside the market but now they are dropped off away from us. Continued inside
• BIANCA • L E B E K
1 August 2018
• E U G E N K L E I N • P E R U Z Z I • G O L L E H AU G
Rents are slashed after stall occupancy plummets to a third
INSIDE THIS WEEK...
Sinkhole shocker!
Joy for horse rider Jane CROSSWORD Southport Market
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