Huge change coming to Nuneaton market as plea is made to help stall holders

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The council is changing the way the market is set up and wants traders to put up their own stalls



A plea has been made to help stall holders amid a huge change coming to Nuneaton Market. In a bid to save funds while preserving the traditional Wednesday and Saturday markets, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council is changing the way the market is set up.

Instead of having staff putting up and taking down stalls, traders will be asked to provide their own and to do it themselves. Concerns had previously been raised about this by Bev Tooby, who runs a sweet stall with her husband Stu, who asked councillors to consider making changes to its plan.

She revealed that some traders may be forced to leave if they had to put up their own stalls. Councillor Kris Wilson raised concerns about the impact of the operational change at a full council meeting.

He asked cabinet member, Cllr Nicola King if the council could help those who cannot put up their own stalls by providing a service. He said they needed to keep the 'long standing' traders on the market.

Cllr Kris Wilson said: "I would like some reassurance that when this new system comes in, which is right the move to make given the operational challenges we face, that we grant what I term 'grandfather rights' to some of the more long established traders in the market, for those that can't actually or physically set up these stalls themselves.

"When I had the conversations with them (the stall holders), as leader, was that they would pay extra, which is still less than what they pay now to have an erected stall for them as long as it was pre-booked.

"Could the portfolio holder give us that assurance because to move from one system to another to have those transitional arrangements to get the best deal for the trader and the council."

In response, Cllr King explained: "We have had several meetings with the market traders and officers recently to discuss the transition of self erecting. Obviously that there is not everyone that can (self erect) and we are having talks with them to see how we can help them and put the possible plan forward to help keep them.

"We are aware that some of them have been here for a very, very long time. So hopefully we can do something acceptable for both sides.

"We are getting there and I think we will have plan that both sides will find acceptable."

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More market days taking place ahead of Christmas



Two markets in Warwickshire will be open for more days in the build up to Christmas, a council has announced.

The market in Nuneaton will be open for an additional five days, while the one in Bedworth will welcome customers for an extra three days, councillors said.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said the move is to "help residents and visitors make the most of the festive season".

The extra dates will also be made available after a series of cancellations due to poor weather.

Nicky King, portfolio holder for business and regeneration, said: "These extra market days are a wonderful opportunity for traders to showcase their unique and wide range of goods during the busy festive period."

The Nuneaton Market will now be open on 21, 23, 24 and 28 December as well as 4 January.

The market in Bedworth will now open on 21 and 24 December as well as 3 January.