Market bosses set out stall for future
LONG-SERVING market traders are negotiating a solution with new managers after being told to leave their unit.
Annette and Andrew Upton, of Rossendale Blinds, have occupied a prominent spot at the front of Rawtenstall market for 12 years.
Steven Malcolm and Dan Gregson, of Play Market Management, have outlined a new vision for the Newchurch Road site requiring them to move.
Annette said: “It’s nowhere near ideal, but we are in negotiation for a possible solution for both parties. We are working together to get a good solution.”
She added: “We started on there in 1992 with outside stalls and I’ve seen a lot of changes. Andrew ploughed his redundancy [money] into fitting it out, and we have been happy here ever since. We are going to have to make the best of it. The business is successful and will continue to be successful because we run it.”
The new managers spoke to us this week about their plans, and said they had ‘unfortunately’ had to take the unit off Rossendale Blinds in order to develop their vision for the site.
Steve, 36, said: “Our plan is to basically turn that stall at the front entrance into a tourist information stall or hub for the community. We want to make it a welcoming place for all the customers. It means it’s going to be fresh and new and visitors can come in and ask for maps. It will mean people from the station and tourists can come over and find information, and all about the history of the market.
“It’s really a vision of getting the community involved more, and redesigning the look of the market so it doesn’t look so dated, looks fresh and new. Our vision for the changes we make will increase the footfall, which will increase businesses’ turnover. Every change we make there’s a reason behind it and thought behind it.”
He added: “Whenever a business takes over something like Rawtenstall Market there has to be a change. We contacted them asking whether they would consider relocation within the market.”
The changes also include the introduction of a new service charge to cover utilities. Steve said that would be £10 per week for traders paying £50 in rent, and would also include Wi-Fi which is being set up, cleaning and a design package.
He added that they have held a traders’ meeting to set out their vision – building on the work done by predecessor Jane Boys – and are keen to continue the popular evening and weekend events she developed.
“We’ve been getting to know the traders over the last couple of weeks,” said
Steve, a former special needs teacher.
“The majority of people have been really, really welcoming, nice and friendly. A lot of them were aware that a service change or increase would be happening because there’s not been one for so long. People understand, and get it. We have had no real complaints.”
His partner Dan said they are planning to be ‘ very hands-on’ managers.
“We don’t want to just be seen as a corporate market,” said Dan, 33. “We live in Rawtenstall and we want to work very closely with the traders for their vision of what they want. We are very family-orientated and we have got that relationship with people. The changes that Jane has made have all been such positive changes. Jane has been really supportive as well and we have been in contact with her.”