Town's market days to be cut after trading at loss

Stallholder Fiona Harner said the market was her only source of income

A town's market is to be cut from five days a week to four, after a council was forced to find savings.

The market, in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, already had its trading days reduced to five in 2016.

Mansfield District Council confirmed on Tuesday that following a consultation, it had decided to further reduce the market budget and subsequently cut another day.

It means from 1 October, the market will run from Wednesday to Saturday each week.

A council report showed the market was costing just under £11,000 per day to run, but on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, generated an income of about £9,000 and £7,000 respectively.

However, Fridays and Saturdays were popular and profitable, making £18,000 and £16,000 for the authority, the report said.

The council consulted market traders about the problems it was facing earlier this year, with cutting Tuesdays among the suggestions by traders.

Mansfield's market will only run from Wednesday to Saturday, from 1 October, the council said

However, not all of them were optimistic about the change.

Plant and flower trader, Michele Anthony, 61, said: "It's really difficult to start a market stall now. You have to be an established trader to be successful, and it's not really a career that young people look into.

"I try to be optimistic about the market, but as more people shop online, it's hard. It's difficult to convince people to come and shop here."

Alan Walker, 76, has owned a record stall on the market for 40 years but only trades on Tuesday.

"If they close on Tuesday, I'll have no choice but to go somewhere else," he said.

He added: "Markets are about more than shopping – they're meeting places, and they are fading away."

Alan Walker said "the future was not bright"

Fiona Harner, 55, who runs a crystals and craft stall five days a week, said: "This is my only income. I pay my mortgage and bills with this.

"I'd have to find another market to go to on that day, and I don't want to do that."

A council spokesperson said: "To ensure the best delivery of service and spending of public money, reports show that the operating costs and income from Tuesday and Wednesday trading are at a significant loss to the council.

"To meet the savings as set out in the medium-term financial plan 2024–2027, the council has taken the decision to reduce the market budget, which has subsequently reduced the number of days the market is open (five days to four)."

The authority said the decision would be reviewed annually.

Additional reporting by Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

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