Market rent rise could 'kill Willenhall'
More than 400 people have opposed proposals to hike the rates for traders at a Willenhall market by as much as 42 per cent, which one campaigner says will 'kill the town'.
The move has been proposed as part of Walsall Council's draft budget.
Authority leader Mike Bird has defended the idea stating the rents have not increased in a decade.
Willenhall ward Councillor Sean Coughlan has launched a petition to fight the raise.
He said: "The council wants to hike rents for traders which will be an absolute deathnail for the market.
"It will kill the town. We have got a very successful petition which we will be presenting to the council later this month.
"It has had plenty of support already from the local shops and lots of different people.
"The shops understand how important it is to have the market there.
"We have had 400 signatures so far and we have plenty more to collect.
"I expect we will get up to 700 in the next few days.
"The market is really important to Willenhall."
There are typically around 65 stalls at Market Square on a Wednesday and around 31 on Fridays and Saturdays.
The rates differ depending on what day of the week the market is running.
They are set to increase from £12.10 on a Wednesday by 42 per cent, £12.30 on a Friday by 41 per cent and from £13.30 on a Saturday by 38 per cent.
The rises equate around £5 a day.
But Council Leader Mike Bird remained unmoved by the concerns.
He said: "Quite honestly they haven't had an increase in Willenhall for at least ten years.
"You have to bare in mind the market traders pay no other overheads other than their rent.
"They pay less than £15 a day where as in Walsall it is around £45.
"So I don't have a great deal of sympathy with them, the market rents have not been in line with the current costs elsewhere for a long time."
Responding directly to the petition Councillor Bird added: "I am aware of councillor Coughlan's petition we will take it and process it in the normal manner.
"But of course the budget is a consultation at the moment and we welcome the input from Sean Coughlan and the market traders."
Traders at Bloxwich market also face a similar rise in the budget plans.
The hike would generate an extra £44,000 a year in income for the council.
