Business shows concern at future of outside market
CONCERNS have been raised over the future of the outside Market Hall.
Town centre business owners say they have seen a large drop off in the number of stallholders and blamed internet shopping, the rise of discount stores, the closure of Marks and Spencers and the imminent move of the bus station.
Hyndburn council said occupancy levels on the outside market ‘remain fairly stable’ and ‘tend to vary this time of year’ due to summer festivals and an increase in car boot sales.
Reg Whittam, who owns The Garth Dawson Studio on nearby Bridge Street, posted a picture on Facebook of the outside Market Hall on Saturday morning asking residents ‘what on earth is going on?’
He said: “We were absolutely shocked when we went down. The post was put on not as a way of knocking Accrington but out of concern.
“There were a few comments from people who had stalls on the market and they said they could no longer afford to pay the rates that were being charged and make a profit and just left.”
Reg, who has owned the studio for 24 years, fears the relocation of the bus station to Crankshaw Street could draw away trade and ‘make things worse’.
Shahed Mahmood, Hyndburn Chamber of Trade President, said the market is “at the top” of their list of priorities and something needs to be done about it.
He said: “I think it’s normal business patterns with people buying off the internet, pound shops and superstores selling stuff at next to nothing prices. This is forcing some market traders to move out as they say they can’t compete.”
Coun Clare Cleary, Hyndburn council’s portfolio holder for Accrington Market, said no changes have been made to the outside market and the new bus station should not be a factor as it is yet to open. She added: “We see the forthcoming relocation of the bus station as an opportunity to provide additional car parking along Peel Street for our customers and an opportunity to improve the shopping offer at the outside market in conjunction with our plans for the new town square.”