No New Year cheer for angry market traders (From Warrington Guardian)

No New Year cheer for angry market traders

DISGUSTED Northwich traders are protesting after council officials decided they will have to pay the full amount of their rent money - when they can only open for one day next week.

Stallholders at Northwich's indoor market are outraged by a ruling from Vale Royal Borough Council that they are only allowed to do business on New Year's Eve when most shops will be open as normal.

In response to the decision, they have drawn up a petition calling for a major reduction in the week's rental charge. They say this year marks the first time such a ruling has been enforced and predict some traders will be hit hard by the ban.

Jonathan Kay-Spruce, who runs a bookstand on the market and is a committee member with the Northwich branch of the Market Traders' Federation, said the council decision was completely unacceptable.

He said: "We think it is totally unreasonable and out of order to expect the market hall traders to pay a full week's rent for one day's trading on Friday, December 31 when through no fault of our own we are unable to trade for the rest of the week.

"We want Vale Royal Borough Council to give a major reduction in the week's rental charge. We are only allowed to open on New Year's Eve with full rent payable.

"We have been badly hit by road and bridge closures and there has been no compensation from the borough council.

"Traders have been loyal through all the bad times and have families who are entitled to have a good Christmas."

Fellow committee member Tony Willacey, who runs a health food stall at the market, added: "This is the first time this has happened and it is going to hit some traders really hard.

"The whole town will be open and we are wondering why we should have these restrictions when we want to come in and open up. It is just not on and the decision has been made without consultation."

A Vale Royal Borough Council spokesman said: "The council is supporting the indoor market traders during one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year by providing three additional shopping market days - meaning the indoor market will be open every day of the week commencing Monday, December 20.

"The council is making no additional charge for providing this opportunity for indoor market traders because it operates a monthly licence agreement with them."

jbrakell@guardiangrp.co.uk