Support for market traders rejected

An artist's impression reveals how the new market could look

A motion to financially support displaced market traders in Wolverhampton has been defeated.

Traders said they had suffered financial loss as well as ill health since Bilston Outdoor Market relocated last year to make way for a £5.2m upgrade of the site.

A plea for financial support, asking City of Wolverhampton Council to "step in immediately" was defeated at a full council meeting this week.

A statement from the council said major projects were rarely completed without "some level of disruption".

Anita Stanley said two traders had suffered ill health and another had quit.

The Reform UK ward member for Bilston North said traders had also been informed improvements would not be completed until 2026, rather than before Christmas, as originally planned.

Stanley's motion called on the council to put together a financial package to offset trader's losses, freeze rents, and issue an apology letter - but it was defeated at a full council meeting.

Cabinet Member for Resident Services, councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, said the Bilston market scheme had "been shaped" by the people who use it - and the council had positive feedback from traders and residents throughout the consultation.

He said: "I want to be absolutely clear we will not cut back on our ambition for Bilston. I see the new market as a key development, the catalyst for even further investment in and around it.

"Major, multimillion-pound projects are rarely completed without some level of disruption.

"We know from talking to market traders and local businesses that the current situation has created some positives and some negatives.

"We will continue to listen to and work with them to make this is as pain-free as we can, whilst preparing them for the bigger prize and opportunities the scheme will create."

After listening to traders' ideas in March, the council said phase two of the project would find a way of "better connecting footfall" from the bus station to the indoor market.

Gakhal said the council was also announcing a £15,000 fund to increase footfall through events in the area.

"I am determined to ensure that traders have a big say in how this is used but I'm clear that it will benefit both the indoor and outdoor markets and the wider town centre", he said.