Traders given notice as wholesale market to close

James Thomas said jobs were potentially at risk and traders had young families

Wolverhampton's wholesale market is to close after the city council approved plans to redevelop the site.

Businesses that sell flowers and fresh produce have been given a year to vacate.

The council said it could no longer afford a promised new market building, and must prioritise services such as helping looked-after children and vulnerable adults.

The authority said it was supporting traders as they looked for new premises - but trader James Thomas said tenants felt cheated and let down.

Mr Thomas, who runs The Flower Market, and whose brother sells plants, said traders were promised a brand new market three years ago, but three months ago were told the plans had been scrapped.

'There was no remorse'

He said up to 270 jobs were potentially at stake and many traders had young families to support.

After Wednesday's council cabinet decision, Mr Thomas said: “There are a lot of people who are really upset.”

“There was no remorse for us.”

He said he had worked at the market for six or seven years, but others had been based there since the 1970s, when the market began.

Mr Thomas said the traders now needed a new site and financial support.

“Up until three months ago, we were having a brand new building,” he said.

“Now we need a new base, we need to build brand new cold rooms which can cost tens of thousands.

“If we had known three years ago, we could have tried to do something about it.

“There’s no business that can save up in six months.”

Mr Thomas said if traders had known three years ago, they could have made plans

A City of Wolverhampton Council statement said: “Given the council’s current financial challenge, there is no way it can afford a new £6m building for private traders or the £272,000 associated running costs, when its priority is to provide essential services like looking after young children, supporting vulnerable adults and collecting bins.

“There is no statutory requirement for the council to provide accommodation for a small number of private businesses, nor is it appropriate to effectively subsidise profit-making businesses with taxpayers’ money.

“In keeping with the tenancy agreements signed by the traders, notice of up to 12 months will be served.”

The council said compensation would not be expected in the private sector and was not something the council could offer, especially when it needed to make savings.

The authority said it had engaged with tenants to suggest alternative sites and would continue to support them in their search.