A big injection of still very optimistic’
there’s nothing and sad to see.
“I put it down to rates being through the roof and people going to superstores so small traders cannot compete.
“I just hope Aberdare can come back alive again. It was queen of the Valleys.” it’s
David Jones – Aberdare Market Antiques David has had his store at the market for two years, since he gave up his job as a staff nurse.
He said: “I was rapidly approaching 50 and decided to grab the bull by the horns and actually try self employment to see if it worked – and it’s not too bad.
“It’s developing well, and is pretty much embryonic. Anything and everything you make has to be turned into stock.
“To continue to keep it fresh and different is another challenge.”
In terms of the most popular items, he said: “Anything of local and historical interest always causes a bit of a stir, especially things that tie in with industrial heritage and mining heritage.”
He said the market was “continually evolving”, adding: “The fact I’m still here nearly two years later and still looking at next year is a positive thing.
“Unless something catastrophic happens, I see myself here for the foreseeable future.
“I like the market. The fact it’s got a very good footfall and is very secure. If I had gone to the high street, I don’t think it would have suited me.”
Liam Jones – The Sweet Treat Bake Shop Liam, 30, joined the business four years ago, and is now the manager.
He said: “I came to work for my mate here initially – it was his business, but I ended up managing the place. I did a sports degree at Gloucester University but ended up in bakery!
“Business is good, it’s pretty busy. But I can definitely see Aberdare and the market getting quieter. You can see the footfall is decreasing and it’s all to do with retail parks and other things.
“It’s quite worrying just to see all of the shops shutting in town, and it will have a knock on effect eventually, but we seem to do alright here.”
Mary-Lyn Leach – Picture Framing and Tools Mary was another who was a regular customer at the store she now owns.
“They said they were selling up so I bought the business and it went from there and we started making frames ourselves. Fourteen years later and we’re still here.
“Business is okay and I have got enough work to keep me going because I’m the only one doing this sort of thing around here.”
Mary-Lyn, 52, said Aberdare itself had taken a “battering” in recent years. “It’s a nice little town,” she explained, adding: “The problem is big shops are going. At one time it was a fabulous shopping centre. It had lots of businesses but they have gone so we could do with getting back big business and bringing people back to town.”
Nigel Webb, market manager and one of the directors, agreed with the RCT council’s sentiment that Aberdare still has a lot to offer.
“It’s quieter than it should be. All town centres are being hit.
“We have got to a stage where we are reducing rents to get tenants into the building to give them a chance. And it seems to be working because we’re full up.
“Some businesses are still doing very well and a lot of businesses in the market doing okay and to think it’s the first time in seven years it’s been full means we must be doing something right.
“In my view, the market will always be here in one form or another.”