Challenge for market

A massive 87 per cent of the budget for Stafford's troubled St John's Market has been spent on improving toilets this financial year.

Figures released by Stafford Borough Council show that £66,000 were lavished on the facilities, with just £10,000 left to upgrade the rest of the tatty and ageing indoor market.

A total of £37,000 was spent on refurbishing public toilets and £29,000 on traders' toilets, leaving £3,000 to be spent on upgrading vital chilling equipment, £3,000 on additional equipment for the cafe, £3,000 on replacing the fire alarm panel and a mere £1,000 on "air handling".

This meant no investment in redecoration, replacing the fire alarm system, replacing doors or updating the electrics.

This work has been put on the backburner – with the council hoping to carry it out through 2007-2008.

Stafford borough councillor Chris Baron, who covers the Forebridge ward, said it was a difficult situation. She said: "Toilets are something we get lots of complaints about – so it is clear that something had to be done, but this should have meant extra money coming into the budget.

"Eighty-seven per cent seems a heck of a lot of the total budget to be spent in one area and it is not fair to those who are trying to manage the market to give them that little for improvements."

The accounts of the ailing market have been scrutinised by council officers after it was revealed in November 2006 that it was running more than £53,500 over budget, a figure that was expected to grow to more than £65,000 by the end of the year.

There were concerns that the market – which has been declining for years – could go under if its prospects do not improve, especially as stall occupancy rates are far below target, with 15 per cent standing empty in February this year.

The biggest challenge facing the council is the low occupancy rates at the market.

Ted Manders, spokesman for Stafford Borough Council said that the improvements are part of a rolling plan. He said: "The expenditure on the toilets was part of a planned refurbishment, with the budget for 2006-07 being set accordingly.

"The work has been completed and the improvements have been well received by shoppers and traders alike."