We’ve been left behind say market traders
STALLHOLDERS FEAR FOR LIVELIHOODS AS SHOPS AND OTHER MARKETS RETURN
MARKET traders say they feel they have been left behind after their reopening was delayed by Manchester council.
As of June 1, the government announced that outdoor markets could open, and as of yesterday, all non-essential shops could follow suit - if they comply with social distancing.
But traders at Wythenshawe Market – which has indoor and outdoor units – say they still haven’t been given a set date for reopening.
Manchester council says it hasstarted a phased approach to reopening the city’s markets from last Thursday, starting with Gorton Market.
Council leaders claim it would be ‘counter productive’ and ‘difficult’ to manage if all of Manchester’s markets were opened at once.
Johann Bedford owns an outside greengrocer stall and is market chairman at Wythenshawe. She says the uncertainty around reopening has caused anxiety among her fellow traders.
“We are all struggling,” she told the M.E.N. “We have been shut since March 20 and we think we are now looking at July before anything at Wythenshawe gets reopened.
“We have already had a directive that we can open as a market but the council say there isn’t enough management staff to open the market.”
As shops at Wythenshawe’s Civic Centre reopened yesterday, Johann says she feels that market traders are being left behind.
Non-essential retailers in the town centre have opened their doors for the first time since lockdown began, with strict social distancing and cleaning regimes.
“Some of the market businesses have received the small business relief of £10,000 each which was okay initially,” Johann said.
“But now we are looking at about 15 to 20 weeks of closure by the time we get back. If you spread that money out it’s not a lot for people to live on.
“They’ve also got staff to look after. Some have been furloughed but a lot have had to be let go.
“There are a lot of people who have potentially lost their livelihoods because there isn’t enough staff to open the market.”
New Smithfield Market is the only market in the city that has traded throughout lockdown – while under strict safety measures – due to its importance in the local food supply chain.
But from last week Gorton Market reopened Thursdays to Saturdays between 10am and 4pm.
The Arndale’s food market reopened for food and non-essential businesses yesterday.
Manchester council say the phased return means that Longsight and Wythenshawe markets are expected to reopen by mid-July.
“Everyone keeps asking me when we are getting back to reopening but it’s how long is a piece of string really,” Johann said.
Johann says the extra delay to reopening has meant that many traders are considering leaving the market for good.
“A lot of the traders are even talking about leaving. A lot of the units here have been trading 20 years plus and we don’t want to see our livelihoods go.”
Manchester council say their small team has been working ‘tirelessly’ to allow markets to reopen safely.
Coun Luthfur Rahman, executive member for skills, culture and leisure, said: “We have decided to take a phased approach to ensure that the steps we have taken are the correct ones and to allow our team and traders to adapt to a new way of working.”