BOTTOM DROPS OUT OF MARKET
BULL RING TRADERS FEAR FOR FUTURE
TRADERS on all three Bull Ring markets claim Birmingham City Council’s continued demand for full rent could see them collapse after a huge drop in the number of visitors.
Footfall for the week starting July 6 in the Indoor Market was down by 37 per cent compared to last year.
The markets date back to 1166 and have survived the English Civil War, two world wars and countless recessions.
But a month after the Open Market, the Rag Market and the Indoor Market reopened many traders are fearing the worst.
They are still expected to pay full rent despite barriers for social distancing and advice for people not to use public transport unless absolutely essential. Some have already left while others are thinking about it. Bull Ring Open Market Traders’ chairman Nigel Harris runs Chilly Billy frozen foods as well as J&M Harris Eggs & Cheese.
Mr Harris said: “I think six traders have gone from the markets already and some others haven’t even begun trading again yet.
“It’s going to take time to get it back to where we were because people’s habits have definitely changed and more people are buying things online.
“As chairman, I emailed the council two weeks ago about our concerns but have not heard back.
“I am despondent and frustrated. I am watching things falling apart at the seams because nobody (from the council) is coming to traverse our shop floor – with all of the restrictions and health and safety.
“Some traders are not even taking a third of what they were.
“We should be getting ready to really capitalise on the Commonwealth Games because nowhere else in the city has the diversity that we have here and we should be starting to think about Christmas, too.’’
He added: “There’s also the threat of the Clean Air Zone charge in January which would add £200 per week to my bills as I can’t afford to replace my 18-tonne truck with a cleaner vehicle.”
Rag Market trader Sarah Roberts said that since lockdown she has only opened her stall one day a week – on Saturdays.
“We are trying to develop a business now online through Facebook. We think [Rag Market] footfall is now down by 60 per cent.
“Because it’s no longer viable to be open during the week we are trying to do everything now on a Saturday but it’s grim down there.’’ Her uncle Mark Burrows added: “I’m not going to let this bust me, but I think more than 25 per cent of the stalls are now empty and if it goes above 50 per cent you then wonder if the council will close it.”
Indoor Market Traders’ chairman Sean Uzell admits he is close to throwing in the towel himself because it is no longer viable to turn up during the early part of the week.
“It’s dreadful,” he said. “Trade’s just not happening. We did better than expected in the first week as people clearly were waiting for us to reopen to get their shoes mended or keys cut. But trade has not grown since and I’m just not covering my costs.” Fellow Indoor Market trader Phil Abbott, 65, runs two stalls – one selling cards and the other is a newsagent.
“We have fiercely loyal customers who would climb over barriers to get to the card stall, but unfortunately there are just not enough of them,” he said. He has been trading for 46 years since 1974.
Since lockdown ended, official council figures show that the number of visitors to the Indoor Market has actually increased by 56 per cent from 20,357 (w/c June 15) to 31,787 (w/c July 6).
But that is still 37 per cent down on last year’s equivalent recorded footfall of 50,798 for w/c July 8, 2019.
The one concession to traders is that Rag Market businesses can enjoy half price rent for 12 weeks if they take on additional stalls.
In contrast, Wolverhampton City Council has offered its four-day licence traders one day rent free per week if they maintain an 80 per cent annual attendance, while new or casual traders converting to licence and selling a different range to what is already on offer can claim a 50 per cent rent reduction for 26 weeks.