Wolverhampton’s ailing markets are to stay put despite discussions about moving them having taken place for nearly a year, it emerged today.

A survey of some 1,000 shoppers and traders has proved inconclusive, with almost equal numbers of people wanting the markets to stay put, moved to Queen Square and Dudley Street, or moved to the piazza outside the Civic Centre.

Wolverhampton City Council’s chief officer for commercial services Alistair Merrick, said the result backed up the ruling Tory-Lib Dem cabinet’s decision to leave the market alone until the future of the £300 million Summer Row shopping centre was clear.

The market has been boosted by incentives.

The number of stalls occupied in the indoor market rose from 68 in February to 92, and stall rents have been held at last year’s rates.

Neil Spiers, who runs a haberdashery stall, said today: “We’ve had a good two months and the free parking has been working well.

“The market in Queen Square is popular because it has had cheap rents but if we all move there the cost would have to be tripled, so we don’t want to do that.”