High hopes or 'disgusting' - Shoppers give their verdict on Dudley Market
We asked shoppers what they think of Dudley Market.
Dudley Market first opened in the 12th century and is a staple of Black Country history, with the market first being established by the Lord of the Manor when Dudley transitioned from a village into a market town.
However, Dudley market is a controversial topic, with many saying the town ‘isn’t what it was’ and some even describe the market area as ‘disgusting’.
One passionate high street goer was keen to share his dissatisfaction with the market, saying: “If you take a walk around and have a look, the place is disgusting.
“Even the old council offices are all in a state of disrepair. And there’s rubbish around that has been there at least two years. There’s old shopping trolleys and it’s absolutely disgusting.
“I’ve never lived in Dudley but have always worked in Dudley and the place is deteriorating that fast there is no hope.
“It isn’t a market really there is just a load of rubbish on there, cheap stuff. Why on earth have they brought the metro through here when there’s nothing for anyone to see.
“The first thing you see getting off the metro is an empty pub. And all the shops are closed down - who is going to come here?
“They spent £150,000 on benches and there was pigeons all over them and they had to come and wash them off and that was part of the trouble.”
Dudley Council removed the £150,000 benches from the town centre this October, just 16 months after their initial installation. The benches are now a feature at Himley Hall Park.
He added: “Bilston is better, you get better bargains and they have a thriving market but here the only good stall is the fruit stall.
“How the guy who sells flowers makes a profit I will never know, and the council don’t seem to have the interest or the money to build the place up.
“I don’t think there’s any hope for Dudley at all.”
Lynne Grigg also shared dissatisfaction, saying: “It needs to be improved, years ago you could shop there forever, I used to love it up here, but it’s not like that now.
“People are fed up of coming here and all the shops are shut. It needs a big boost.
“It needs the stalls that were here before.”
However Gary Bloomer, from the high street donut stall, stood in defence of the market and has high hopes for the town.
He said: “We’ve got the metro coming through and the council are investing into the area.”
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