Wet weather blamed for low market uptake in Walsall

Less than half of the stalls are being snapped up on market days in some parts of Walsall, it has emerged, with bosses blaming unseasonal wet weather for the uptake by traders.

An average of just 41 per cent of spaces are being taken up at Bloxwich Market on Tuesdays with many spots left standing empty. Walsall Market also struggles on a Wednesday where there is an average of 59 per cent of stalls occupied. It follows latest figures showing that more than £280,000 was generated from council-run pitches in the last 12 months.

Although Willenhall made a deficit of just over £30,000 the take up of stalls on a Wednesday averages 86 per cent, 75 on a Friday and drops again on a Saturday to 69 per cent.

The main profit-making event at Walsall Market, which brings in over £300,000 and helps cover the losses at Willenhall, has 98 stalls which peaks at an average take up of 90 per cent on Mondays.

Take up is 87 per cent on Saturdays, 80 on Fridays and 78 on Tuesdays before dropping to 59 on Wednesdays.

In Bloxwich the most popular day is Friday with 80 per cent stalls on average filled with 68 on Saturdays and then just 41 per cent on Tuesdays.

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Traders said the weather has a bearing on stalls put up. Karen Sands, of Sands Fish which trades in Bloxwich on Fridays, said: "We find it a good community market. A smaller market always seems to be harder to fill as they haven't got the footfall like Walsall but the atmosphere around there is good. When it comes to summer time the stalls will all be taken."

Walsall Market Traders Association chairman Tony Larner said the town centre Wednesday pitch was mainly known for its bric-a-brac. But said the overall five day a week event was popular.