Dudley Council currently offers reduced rates for pitches on Fridays and it has been so successful calls have been made made for it to be introduced all week.

Traders say the scheme, which offers stalls in the centre aisle of the market for as little as £15, has filled the market on Fridays and made it a bustling centrepiece for the town again.

But for the rest of the week, when rents are at a normal level of £38, regulars say the market is half-empty.

Ron McFarlane, who has run a card stall on the market for more than 30 years, is one of the traders calling for the reduced rent to be introduced all week.

He said: “I think the council should seriously look at running this reduced rent offer all through the week.

“If the council were to put it on through the week it would help to fill the market, I have no doubts about that.

“It would be a good incentive for traders, especially casuals who don’t have much stock or capital because they are just starting out.

“Surely filling the market is good news for everyone – the traders, the shoppers and the council.

“At the moment in the week it is only half full.”

Dudley Council spokeswoman Vikki Marshall said Friday had been a quiet trading day at the market and the half-price promotion for centre aisle stalls had been introduced as a pilot scheme to address the issue.

She said it had improved the situation and council bosses intended to review the scheme.

Last week traders revealed concerns that moving the post office from the marketplace and further up into town could hit their already dwindling trade.

Earlier this year town centre bosses slashed rents by 20 per cent in February and 10 per cent in March in a bid to attract more traders to the historic marketplace.

By Wayne Beese

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