Traders vow to be ‘last stall standing’ at indoor market

THESE traders have defied council chiefs to become the “last stall standing” in an indoor market earmarked for closure after 135 years.

Marcelle Humphreys and Elizabeth Langdon have refused to relocate Sew and Sew to the outdoor area at Maesteg Market.

They now face the prospect of up to six months as the sole trader in the once-thriving retail area in the basement of Maesteg Town Hall.

The other stalls have either relocated – some to the outdoor area – or closed down all together as Bridgend County Borough Council pushes ahead with controversial plans to create what it has termed a “cultural hub” including a library.

“We’ll be the only ones left by the end of next month,” said Marcelle, 64, who opened the sewing and alterations business 12 years ago.

“I said there’s no way we’re going quietly.”

Marcelle, chairman of the market traders, and Elizabeth, rejected the offer on an outside unit as their £47 weekly rent would only be frozen for two years after which it would double – an extra charge they do not want to pass on to their many loyal customers.

“We are hoping that we can find somewhere else for our customers,” said Marcelle.

“But we don’t want anything to do with the council.”

Sew and Sew is just one of three stalls remaining.

Maesteg Animal Welfare’s charity book stall is moving outside by the end of the month and Carmarthenshire Dairy Produce is set to move by the end of September.

Cwtchi Mama’s Cafe and Valley Gold are among those which have already relocated to the outside units.

Marcelle said her secured tenancy means she should now get a six-month notice period, although she has yet to receive formal notification from the council.

And, in a bizarre twist, despite the upheaval, Maesteg Market has now been named as a finalist in The Welsh Independent Retail Awards.

Bridgend council is proposing what it has called a multi-million-pound “new vision” for Maesteg Town Hall, which is also an important performance venue.

Less than a year ago there were 12 businesses in the indoor market supporting 20 jobs.

But after the plans were announced last year, traders said customer numbers fell and forced the closure of some businesses.

The council said the town hall, paid for by local miners in the late 19th century, would close anyway without urgent repairs and has bid for European regeneration cash to fund the £4m-plus redevelopment.

But when asked if it had formally secured the money under the Buildings for the Future programme, a council spokesman said only that “this process is ongoing and is progressing well”.

A statement said: “Five of the current indoor traders have either relocated or are in the process of relocating into the outdoor market area. Discussions with one trader are ongoing after they accepted a relocation offer then later rejected it.

“As regards seeking external funding to secure the future of Maesteg Town Hall by developing new facilities that will put it directly at the heart of the community, this process is ongoing and is progressing well.”