Shop owners' heartbreak over City Centre South scheme as some face closure

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Market traders complain hoardings hit trade



Market traders have said they could be forced to close, because they have been hidden by hoardings.

The boards have been put up around Coventry's City Centre South development and traders said customers have been staying away, because they think Coventry Market is shut.

One said: "I'm taking approximately 50% of what I was taking".

The city council said it was talking to the traders, had installed clear signage and was promoting the fact it was open for business.

Mali Vazifehdan runs Brown Stitch Clothing Alterations in the market, and said since the hoardings went up, trade was down: "I used to have long queues for my stall.

"All of my customers are calling to ask if we have closed down and I tell them 'no' we are still open.

"I have been here since 2014 and I'm having to take larger orders of 75 items or more just to cover the rent because I have fewer customers.

"It's getting worse every day."

Bernie Donnelly, who runs the key cutting and shoe repair stall in the market, told BBC CWR: "I've got three generations of people that come to see me and they still do, but it has impacted a lot even on me, for newcomers, it's hammered them."

Meanwhile Terry Payne, who has run the Designer Rugs stall at the market for the last four years, said: "I'm taking approximately 50% of what I was taking before.

"We need help with the rent. The traders won't be here by Christmas if we don't get any assistance."

Christopher Charley runs the perfume and cosmetics stall, and is also secretary of the Indoor Market Traders Committee.

He is organising a protest on 24 July , and said: "We're in a really difficult situation. The development is right on our doorstep and the market hasn't been taken into consideration.

"It's severely restricted our footfall, and no one is doing anything about it."

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Traders hold protest over future of market



A protest has been held over the future of Coventry's market, after traders said they could be forced to close because they have been hidden by hoardings.

Boards have been put up around the City Centre South development and traders said customers had been staying away, as they thought the market was shut.

About 60 people attended the protest outside the city council's Friargate offices on Thursday, following the closure of about half a dozen stalls, with more on the way.

In a statement issued by the authority and developers The Hill Group, they said when the development was complete, the market would be in a much better position.

The council-owned building is Grade II-listed due to its unique circular design, but hoardings were erected feet away, leaving large areas less accessible.

Traders said the market had been left isolated and harder to reach because of nearby demolition work.

Chris Charley, from the Indoor Market Traders Committee, said the site was losing a flower kiosk that would be leaving on Friday.

He added: "That's been a flower kiosk that's been in the market for 60 years that's passed from father to son.

"I'm very concerned. We're losing good, long-term stalls that have been the lifeblood of the market since its beginning."

Mr Charley said rents were being kept the same, "which is good".

But he added: "The actual traders have actually suffered a 35% to 55% decrease [in trade], depending on which stall you talk to.

"So although the rent has remained the same, if people have taken a 35% pay cut, they're not able to sustain and pay that."

Lindsay Jopling, who has traded there for 60 years, said: "The obesity problem is growing, but down the market we've got such a lot of healthy food there.

"The traders will give you advice. You don't get that in the big stores."

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Council keeping Coventry Market rents 'low' amid growing anger over City Centre South



Coventry City Council will be keeping Coventry Market fees 'low' as angry traders protested about a £450m regeneration project. Stallholders have shared their fury over the hoardings erected for City Centre South.

Boards have been placed around Coventry Market as the major scheme, which is being led by the Hill Group, gets underway, as reported by CoventryLive. However, there has been growing angst that they have blocked off the Grade II-listed building.

Traders said the hoardings had 'killed' their businesses, with Terry Payne, who runs Designer Rugs, saying his profits had halved. But Coventry City Council responded by saying they are 'working hard' to keep the rents low, with weekly fees ranging from £60 to £130.

Signage promoting Coventry Market will also be 'boosted.' But Sarah Bodger, who runs Ragdoll Crafts, told us that her business had already been badly impacted and she will soon be relocating to Leamington Spa.

Sarah said: “Hoarding is killing Coventry Market. Before they went up, my business was doing really well, I was looking at employing somebody part-time to work with me, and we have now got to the stage where I am not taking enough money to even pay the rent, and my savings are keeping my business afloat. Without help, there is going to be no one left in Coventry Market.”

She continued: “If I stay in Coventry Market, I will not have a business anymore. My savings are being depleted week by week. I have worked hard for over four years for this, and I cannot let it just go.”

Christopher Charley, of the Indoor Market Traders Committee, said: “We have lost five or maybe six stalls in practically the last four months, and over that period of time, Coventry City Council has not really done anything. We have had meetings with them and told them about what they need to be doing, and the responses have been very wishy-washy.”

Coventry City Council said it is working with the Hill Group to ensure the 'best possible future' for Coventry Market. Rents will also be kept 'low' while the redevelopment project is completed.

But Terry Payne, who runs Designer Rugs, said hit back at the level of support. He said: “Coventry City Council has done absolutely nothing, they have not engaged with us, they are fobbing us off, they are thinking we are all going to go away, and we are not. Coventry Market might go away before we go away because that is their negligence.”

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Renewed fears over Coventry market's future as City Centre South development continues



The ‘beating heart’ of Coventry city centre could be destroyed unless extra steps are taken to safeguard the future of the indoor market according to concerned councillors. But a call for ‘meaningful dialogue’ to take place between council leaders and traders was dismissed with the ruling Labour group saying there was already enough support.

Cllr John Blundell spoke at the latest full council meeting about the need to protect the market which was the first indoor circular market in Europe when built in 1958. He said traders had noticed sales have decreased by an average of 40 per cent – believed to be as a direct result of hoardings being erected around the market as part of the City Centre South development.

He said: “To make it quite clear, we are in favour of the development but the issue is the problem with the market traders. Matters now are far worse than they were under Covid.

“They are concerned that when demolition begins, these concerns will become far worse. My motion is to come up with a systematic approach which will encourage new traders, ensure that existing ones remain within the market to ensure that the future of Coventry market is secure.”

Fellow Tory, Cllr Mattie Heaven, added: “Many traders say they could be forced to close because hoardings have hidden them away ensuring far fewer customers come through the doors . Back in the spring, 174 people signed a petition asking the council to change the hoardings to allow easier access to the market. Nothing has changed since the petition. We need to ensure that the progress in our city centre does not destroy its beating heart.”

But the council’s cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, Cllr Jim O’Boyle, said the council had been in discussions with the market traders for quite some time which had resulted in many positive steps including improved signage going up around the city centre.

He added: “All stall holders who pay business rates are receiving a business rates write-off for this financial year and we are working on a campaign that will start later this month, highlighting the traders and the products they sell to Coventry’s diverse communities. Also, drop-in sessions will be held on 30 September and 1 October so the developer can explain the scheme timescales in more detail.”

Regarding a request for rent relief, Cllr O’Boyle said: “Rather than reduce rents and increase the costs to the public, we strongly believe that we need to focus our attention on improving footfall and the general decline in demand over many years. Figures show that at present there are 155 stalls of which 57 are vacant. This compares to two years ago when the number of vacant stalls stood at 46, and to 52 stalls when the City Centre South works started and hoarding was put in place. This confirms our belief that traders are not leaving in droves and it is more a long term structural issue with footfall and demand that has to be addressed.”

He explained that Freebie Friday had been introduced whereby free one day stalls were offered for people to get a taste of market life while Arty Party offered free stalls for artists and makers every Saturday until Christmas.

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Work underway on demolishing Hertford Street staircase for City Centre South



Work is underway on demolishing part of Hertford Street for the Coventry regeneration scheme City Centre South. Barracks Car Park has also been completely demolished as part of the multi-million-pound project.

City Centre South is a £450m scheme aimed at creating a 'vibrant' mixed-use development that will include around 1,500 homes, retail outlets, and community spaces, as reported by CoventryLive. It is being led by the Hill Group, Shearer Property Group and Coventry City Council.

Contractors are bulldozing the Hertford Street staircase and removing steps to install a new accessibility ramp near CeX. Pedestrians can still access the area during daylight hours, but it will be closed for five evenings from Tuesday (October 7).

Demolition is expected to take around four weeks and be completed by the beginning of November. Barracks Car Park and City Arcade have also been flattened as part of the project.

Now, Market Way and Hertford House will be demolished.

Can't say I'll miss it.

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I can remember when this was the Barracks Market and for a very brief period and you could cross over to the newly built circular market through the gap in the buildings and shop at both: