Rent demand leaves market under threat
Traders’ wrath at 900% rise for skinny grass strip
Talks are continuing to try and save Troon’s outdoor food market from oblivion.
A stand- off was triggered after South Ayrshire Council demanded £ 1000 to rent the skinny strip of grass outside the Town Hall.
When the market was established last March the fee for the year was a mere £ 100.
Organisers the Troon Business Association are staggered at the ten- fold increase and warned they’d have to pull the plug on the April market.
Crucially it was the first event since a lady market trader was thumped to the ground by a flying stall in high winds in November.
A TBA spokeswoman issued a stinging rebuke to the moneygrabbing council, saying: “This is not good enough.
“It is highly unlikely we will have the market in April and it might be May before we get our first market, if indeed at all.”
The monthly market has attracted thousands of customers to lap- up artisan local produce.
Councillor Peter Convery has been trying to rescue it behind the scenes.
He said: “At first they were talking huge numbers, £ 1000 a year for ground rent.
“A bond of £ 500 will be kept by the council in case of any damage to grass or surroundings, which I don’t think will be the case.
“After discussions with the officer responsible I succeeded in getting the rent down to £ 250, which I think is reasonable.
“I believe this can be sorted out and we can secure it.
“Given the number of shops that are now empty in Troon it is unthinkable we want to lose the market. We want footfall.”
For the first time the TBA has also revealed the other costs to the council of setting up the market.
They have shelled out £ 1200 for a three year street trader licence and it also costs £ 400 a year for the planning application.
The association added: “The market is eight days a year, good for the community and many town businesses benefit.
“The market is not charged like this by other local authorities. Councillor Convery has been great, but this new aggressive approach by the Council is ridiculous. This is a council who also gives £ 300,000 for a two day air show.”