Financial support bid for displaced market traders

Reform UK councillor for Bilston North Anita Stanley says traders have been hit hard by the market move

Some traders have suffered a 60% drop in sales after an outdoor market was temporarily moved for improvement works, a councillor claims.

Anita Stanley said two traders had suffered ill health and another had quit since Bilston Outdoor Market relocated last year to make way for a £5.2m upgrade of the site.

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 said she would urge the council to provide financial assistance at a meeting on Wednesday. The council said it could not provide a response to her claims in advance of her statement in the hearing.

In a motion to be presented to councillors, Stanley calls on the authority to "step in immediately".

The motion adds: "The whole stress of this is affecting the traders; in fact, two traders have suffered heart attacks due to related stress. One trader has quit; more are planning on quitting as they say that the stress is not worth it.

"Most traders, especially the indoor traders, have reported nearly 60% less sales."

Plans for the outdoor market include a new canopy to cover more modern units

Outdoor market stalls relocated to Bert Turner Boulevard, High Street and Church Street last October, with work initially predicted to finish later this year.

But Stanley said the traders had now been informed they would "miss another Christmas season's sales".

"To me and to many Bilstonians, this is unacceptable," her motion added.

Stanley will call on the council to put together a financial package to offset trader's losses, freeze rents, and issue an apology letter.

"We do not want to lose one of the most coveted assets in this region," the motion ends. "People from far and wide come to our beloved Bilston market to both buy and to sell."

The motion will be debated at the end of the meeting, which starts at 17:45 BST.