latest news
Traders’ co-op may run indoor markets
Tuesday 16 February 2010
Source; Express and Star
16 February 2010
Traders at Wolverhampton’s struggling indoor markets could be handed control so they can run it themselves.
A stallholders’ co-operative is among options for the future of the site, which has 40 vacant stalls, being drawn up by Wolverhampton City Council. Other ideas mooted include moving the indoor and outdoor market to stalls and mobile units in Dudley Street.
Market traders association chairman Dud Malik said today that costs could be cut dramatically if managers on between £40,000 and £50,000 a year were phased out.
The traders themselves could arrange cleaning and other routine duties.
“One of our options could be a traders’ co-operative which would see us stay where we are,” he said.
“Some of the traders already in Dudley Street would not be too keen on the idea of us being there as well.
“If we had a co-operative we could cut some of the top-heavy management of the market and set up our own cleaning contracts to run the market ourselves,” Mr Malik added.
Just 5,452 people a month visit the markets on average, compared with 6,410 in 2008.
The council could allocate 75 spaces in Dudley Street for traders in basic stalls with fabric roofs.
Another option would see 45 larger stalls, which bosses believe would be more attractive.
Markets chief Councillor Barry Findlay, said the matter was still out to consultation and could not be rushed.
“The traders recently suggested the idea of a co-operative. This idea was put forward when we first started discussing the future of the markets. Originally, there was little support, but time has passed and it seems to be gaining in popularity.”
