Half price rent for long-time traders
JON MACPHERSON
LONG-SERVING Accrington market traders are being rewarded with a half price reduction in rent and service charges to ‘acknowledge their long-term commitment’.
Hyndburn council is foregoing more than £15,000 in rates across February and March to help ‘eligible tenants’ during the ongoing £2m public square works.
Market bosses will also carry out a ‘comprehensive review’ of rents and charges, with the market set to face a £132,000 budget shortfall this year.
Coun Clare Cleary, the council’s cabinet member for the market hall, said the trader discount is to ‘acknowledge their longterm commitment to the market and Accrington town centre’.
Speaking at a recent council meeting, she said: “This is to help the market traders in the interim period while the front and the square is being done. We are doing a comprehensive review of rents inside and outside and we have some money to invest in the outside market as well.”
Conservative group leader Coun Tony Dobson said it will offer ‘ quick short-term help for market stall holders’.
Stallholders eligible for the discount must have been a leaseholder for at least two years on January 1, 2018, and not currently benefiting from any incentives. Those not benefiting from the scheme include indoor balcony traders not paying a service charge and outdoor market traders ‘occupying by licence or casual and not paying a service charge’.
A cabinet working group is carrying out a review of the outdoor and indoor markets to be completed by spring 2018.
A report prepared for the cabinet meeting by Mark Hoyle, head of regeneration and housing, said it was important to review their charging structure to ‘reflect the wider trading environment’ and ‘ensure the long term viability and sustainability of Accrington markets’.
He said: “It is a significant number of years since Accrington market rents and charges were formally reviewed and valued. In recent years Accrington town centre retail rents have decreased as a direct result of a decline in town centre shopping. Whilst market trading is a different offer to the high street store, nevertheless traders have options and make charging comparisons. In addition, many Markets, including some local, have reviewed their charges.”