Snub on new market day

Only about half of the usual stalls were open yesterday and those who did open up at St John's Market reported mixed levels of business.

One trader said he had only taken £6 all day while others reported "steady" trade. Stafford Borough Council is now opening the market off Princes Street five days a week.

Despite traders' concerns, the council's facilities co-ordinator Jon Webb today said he remained confident the move was worthwhile.

He said: "Around half of the current stall holders decided to open for business on Monday, and we expect that number to increase as traders and customers get used to the new changes.

"In particular, traders told me they'd noticed lots of new faces coming into the market, which I think shows that we're tapping into new customers." He said he believed the extra trading day will be a significant benefit to stall holders in the run up to the busy Christmas period.

"We always open the market seven days a week from December, so by increasing the trading days from four, to five, we believe market traders will really notice a difference in their sales," he said.

"Stafford residents and visitors will also benefit from the changes, as they'll now have more opportunity to shop. And because the market will be open for longer, this gives us more scope in attracting even more traders to the venue.

"We are currently enjoying a very high occupancy rate at the market, far higher than in other markets, and that is reflected in the numbers of customers we attract through the door. It's a balancing act, and at the moment St John's Market certainly seems to be delivering what Stafford shoppers want."

St John's Market Traders' Committee member Stephen Astley-Nadin, who runs Pet Stop, said: "Trade has been good today. It has been slow but sure.

"Many of the customers we have served have been new ones.

"Some people have come in from Lichfield, Uttoxeter and Rugeley."

Mr Astley-Nadin said that the council needed to do more to advertise the new Monday trading day.

But Raj Aggarwal, who runs Raj Music, said: "It has been terrible. I have only taken £6 all day.

"If I was paying rent for today it would not be worthwhile.

"I don't know whether I will continue to open on Mondays. Only one trader really wanted to open when we had out first meeting with the council."

Colin Norton, who runs Norton Pet Foods, said he had been happy with a steady flow of customers.

"There are fewer stalls open than on a normal day," he said. "The only thing traders are worried about is whether the council will start charging us for Mondays.

"If they did it would be difficult to keep opening on a Monday. I hope more people will come in next Monday to see what the market has to offer."

One stall that was shut displayed a notice stating: "Due to other business commitments this stall will never be open on Mondays."