Market traders owe nearly £20,000 in rent

Figures shown to the BBC reveal one stallholder owed 10 months' rent, valued at almost £6,000

A council is owed nearly £20,000 in unpaid rent from market traders, according to figures released to the BBC.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council opened the new market building in phases from April 2022, as part of a £5.2m project to regenerate the town centre.

Almost three years on, the council has revealed four stallholders have been in rent arrears with one, who has not been identified for reasons of commercial confidentiality, owing 10 months rent, valued at £5,937.

The council said it was pursuing the debts through legal proceedings.

The old market, pictured in 2016, was demolished, with several traders agreeing leases in the new market hall

The council also revealed three leases had been handed back and four others transferred to new operators.

Twenty-seven new stalls were built within the new wooden market hall. All units were let, with the council stating it had a waiting list.

The council said 20 businesses or individuals were still on that list and that was in talks to re-let two of the three vacant stalls.

The council said it was also pursuing debts on interest-free loans offered to traders as an incentive for them to invest in new fixtures and fittings.

However, the council has not disclosed how many businesses took up the loans of between £3,000 and £30,000.

Nor has it disclosed how many loans are in arrears, nor the value of those arrears.

Since the market opened in April 2022, three stallholders have quit and four others stalls had changed hands, the council said

Paul and Sophie Howlett, who run a florist stall, are market traders representatives and are due to meet the council on Monday.

Mrs Howlett said the council was right to pursue the debts.

"If you can't pay your rent after a certain amount of time, say within two or three months of being open, you know whether you're going to make a viable business of it or not," she said.

"But it should not be to the detriment of other businesses on the market, so it needs to be addressed because the council needs that money for the upkeep of the market."

Sophie and Paul Howlett, the market traders' representatives, welcome the council's pursuit of rent and loan repayment arrears

Mr Howlett said it was unfair on other traders that some had not been paying their rent.

"The management need to step up and start managing the market and that's where I find a problem," he said.

A council spokesperson said: ''The council's market team regularly meets with traders and has a market officer as a point of contact.

"We know traders have concerns about cleaning and we work hard to ensure we do the best job we can.

"The market is cleaned on a regular basis and there are three people trained and who use the cleaning machine.

"As always, we urge traders to contact us with concerns so we can look to work with them on any specific issues.''