Wolverhampton to trial summer market

A trial summer market will be launched in Wolverhampton, and shoppers will get an hour's free parking in an attempt to boost trade in the city.

One-day markets will be held on Wednesdays from July 28 to September 15, with stalls in Queen Square, from the top end of Dudley Street down to its junction with Victoria Street.

But traders at the existing outdoor and indoor markets in School Street have raised objections.

They fear the move could harm the recovery of their own businesses and are circulating a petition calling on each other not to take up the offer.

Trade at the indoor market is currently up with all but three of the 92 stalls occupied. In February there were just 68.

The council has already offered a package of incentives to get stalls occupied including allowing existing traders to expand and take on an additional stall for £25 per week and allowing them 12 weeks rent free or a 50 per cent reduction for 26 weeks.

Since the incentives were approved in May 12 new businesses have opened on the indoor market and 16 more are going through the allocations process.

The trial market comes as the Tory-Lib Dem led Wolverhampton City Council is considering moving all stalls to Dudley Street and Queen Square. Traders currently on the existing School Street market will be given first option on pitches at the trial market.

Parking on Market and School Street car parks is free for one hour on market days throughout July and August.

Councillor Barry Findlay, cabinet member for environment, said: "Along with the incentives package for existing and new traders, this provides an excellent boost - particularly in the current tough economic climate."

But butchers' stall holder Dud Malik, chairman of the Market Traders Association, said: "We are against the idea of the one day markets. We believe it is better to concentrate on the markets we already have especially when trade is picking up with the incentives already in place. This will just take traders away from the existing markets."

The trial market will be held on July 28, August 4, 11, 18 and 25 and September 1, 8 and 15.