Northampton Market
Mark Dean is joined in the studio with Councillor Jonathan Nunn to talk about the cuts in the cost to put a market stall and how important market stalls are to the community.John starts by telling us what help for the market traders and what’s it all about.
Help for market traders
Northampton market traders are to be offered reduced rents until 2014 to help them through the difficult economic times that continue to challenge businesses.
Northampton Borough Council has announced the news in response to a call for more support for traders from the independent Market Advisory Group, which was set up earlier this year to look at ways to improve the vitality and continued viability of the town’s historic market.
From the beginning of November until 2014 rents for permanent traders will be reduced by 25 per cent, which will reduce rents on a Saturday from £25 to £19 and typical weekday rents from £10 to £7.50 a day.
The leader of the council, councillor David Mackintosh, and councillor Jonathan Nunn, Northampton Borough council assistant cabinet member responsible for the town centre, have introduced the reduced rents as part of a determined effort by the council to support market traders. Both councillors will also be working with market traders on their stalls to experience life on the market and understand the pressures traders are under.
Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said:
From the beginning of November until 2014 rents for permanent traders will be reduced by 25 per cent, which will reduce rents on a Saturday from £25 to £19 and typical weekday rents from £10 to £7.50 a day.
The leader of the council, councillor David Mackintosh, and councillor Jonathan Nunn, Northampton Borough council assistant cabinet member responsible for the town centre, have introduced the reduced rents as part of a determined effort by the council to support market traders. Both councillors will also be working with market traders on their stalls to experience life on the market and understand the pressures traders are under.
Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said:
"We know trading continues to be tough for businesses at the moment and so we have been considering what practical things we can do that will actually help market traders and safeguard our market. Reducing the rents is just one of the things we are looking at. The market has been successfully doing business in the town for centuries and we all want that to continue. By working closely with the advisory group I hope very much that we can help traders and address more of the challenges and opportunities that could impact the market’s future.”
Raymond Everall, local businessman and chair of the Market Advisory Group,
welcomed the news. He said:
"This is a great decision that I am sure will produce improvements, not only for our market in securing its successful future, but also for our town centre as a whole. I know I speak for all involved, in thanking the council for their support and hard work with the group, in particular councillor Jonathan Nunn and councillor David Mackintosh. This is a good start and will be very helpful to our loyal and hardworking market traders.”
