Market rents in Nuneaton to be cut under Tory plans

[dutchman]

Market traders in Nuneaton and Bedworth would receive a rent reduction, if Conservative councillors have their way.



A budget, to be put forward by the opposition group on Wednesday includes a proposal to cut the weekly fee for stall holders by 10 per cent.

“We are lucky to attract market traders from outside the borough, and indeed from outside the county,” said Conservative group leader Coun Des O’Brien.

“We get people travelling by bus from other towns to visit our award-winning markets and we need to keep giving both the stall holders and our visitors a reason to keep coming.

“Market stall holders are having to look at all their overheads just like every other business and family in the country.

"What many people forget is that our market rents are higher than in some London boroughs. If there isn’t a market there isn’t a town centre – and that is something Nuneaton and Bedworth cannot afford.”

The Shadow Budget would provide an extra £20,000 for street entertainment on market days and also set up a new £150,000 Community Funding Scheme, to offer community groups grants for for projects to help enhance and improve their areas.

Cabinet members from the controlling Labour group will meet at 4pm on Wednesday and then its budget recommendations, including the setting of the Council Tax for 2012-13, will then be presented at the borough council’s annual meeting in the Town Hall chamber at 6pm.

[Spuffler]

Sounds like a very sensible idea. I hope that party politics doesn't get in its way, as it has in relation to some good schemes where I live. Interestingly, the Labour group on our local county council wanted to use some surplus cash that had been found, to subsidise the cost of travel to work for young people, in order to help them cope with work experience or low paid jobs. The LibDems to a man voted against it, and killed off the idea. Politics has surely become a distorted, bizarre caricature of what we have long believed and trusted in, in our country!

[dutchman]

Market will go upmarket

THOUSANDS of pounds is being spent on improving Nuneaton Market which has won nation-wide acclaim.

Councillor Dennis Harvey made the announcement when he outlined the borough council’s budget for the coming year.

Money is also being set aside to make both Nuneaton and Bedworth town centres more attractive to shoppers and visitors.

The veteran leader of the ruling Labour Group said: “We are conscious of the need to make sure our town centres are vibrant and attractive places in which to shop and to visit.”

Nuneaton Market won a national award as one of the best in the country, but stallholders have been pressing for improvements.

Cllr Harvey said: “We are setting aside at least £24,000 in the capital programme for much-needed replacement and refurbishment of Nuneaton market stalls as asked for by the traders.”

Another £5,000 has been set aside for the town centres on top of the money already allocated for the refurbishment of the benches and street furniture.

The council leader added: “Market rents, including the low rent set last year of £8 a stall in Bedworth, will not be increased and two moveable lock-up units, similar to those used in Christmas Markets around the country will soon be erected in Bedworth for use by new traders.”

“What is more, we are reducing shop rents in Congreve Walk in Bedworth and we are making refurbished shops available on shortterm lets to attract people wanting to try out a new business.”

The Conservative opposition also put much emphasis on the town centres and markets in their alternative budget.

Their leader, Cllr Des O’Brien, said: “We are committed to support our award-winning markets by slashing the rents market stallholders have to pay by ten per cent at a time when they are having to look at all their overheads, just like any other business in the country.

“We are lucky to attract market stallholders from outside the borough and indeed from outside the county. We get bus trips from other towns to visit our award-winning markets and we need to keep giving both the stallholders and our visitors a reason to keep coming.”

He added: “What many people forget is that our market rents are higher than in some London Boroughs. If there isn’t a market, there isn’t a town centre - and that is something our borough cannot afford.”

[Spuffler]

"The veteran leader of the ruling Labour Group said: “We are conscious of the need to make sure our town centres are vibrant and attractive places in which to shop and to visit.”" Seems to me that Coventry Corporation could do with heeding that one!!