Trader calls for Coventry Market lockdown closureThe owner of a bakery in Coventry Market has called for the market to be closed to save his business and allow him and other traders to access government money.
Jerone Smith, who runs Maria’s Bakery in the city centre market, says the ‘lockdown limbo’ is having a devastating effect on his long-standing business.
Jerone, or Joe as he is known to most of his customers, is one of just a small number of traders classed as essential who are still trading at Coventry Market.
Footfall has been hugely impacted at the market, which is run by Coventry City Council, as people have been advised to stay at home and non-essential retailers have been ordered to close.
But because Maria’s Bakery is a food takeaway - and therefore classed as an essential business - it means Joe must carry on, unless he decides to close voluntarily.
But by doing so, unlike non-essential retailers who have been forced to close, the business would not be eligible for any Government top-up grants.
As such Joe, aged 54, believes the market should be closed - a move which would mean he would be eligible for support, not crippled by lockdown loopholes and a lack of clarity over who can go where and do what.
“We are classed as an essential food seller and because we haven’t got a seating area we can open,” Joe said. "Businesses that have been forced to close are eligible for a £4,000 top-up grant but we won’t get that.”
Joe says he and his colleague Kia Kennedy spend a large part of the day doing very little as “absolutely nobody” is around.
He feels the city centre is a ‘dead zone’ and there is little point in them remaining open, certainly when it comes to doing enough business to survive.
Joe, who estimates takings are down by between 70 and 80%, said: “There is absolutely nobody here, the car parks are closed and the police are out in the city centre asking people why they are out.
“All the stores around us are shut. We are stood here for ten hours a day and it’s demoralising. We are getting food in and having to throw it away. We’re getting all this stuff in and having to throw the majority away.
“If we were told to close it would be different but we are forced to stay open.”
Joe feels the current message urging people to stay at home makes it particularly confusing for customers.
“A lot of our customers are elderly and feel very confused,” he said.
“This time around it is a lot worse - people don’t know what they are supposed to be doing.”