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1,500 sign petition to support market traders in Ashton

Indoor traders at Ashton Market Hall are calling for a refund from Tameside Council after saying they were charged full rent throughout lockdown.

Essential services were able to continue trading from the hall throughout lockdown, triggered by the coronavirus pandemic on March 23, but many were forced to shut up shop for three months.

But they state they are having to foot a full rental bill for the period they were closed.

Now more than 1,500 people have signed a petition in support of the traders.

Although restrictions were eased from July 4, allowing non-essential services to start trading again, traders say they have been left further frustrated by new rules meaning the market must close one hour earlier than usual at 4pm - but again say they are having to pay the same rents.

It is a decision that has angered Paws and Claws owner Michael Whitworth. 

He said: “I fail to understand how the council haven’t entered into any dialogue with each stall holder because each individual’s costs are different. All they had to do was discuss the situation with us. 

“But they’ve allowed this bad feeling to fester. This could’ve been resolved by someone in finance coming down and sitting with each stall holder and discussing everyone’s needs.”

It’s an issue that hasn’t escaped the attention of Tameside Conservatives, who have launched the petition on behalf of traders.

Dan Costello, who was the prospective parliamentary candidate for the  Conservatives, standing against Angela Rayner in the Ashton ward at last December’s General Election, explained how they became involved.

“We were approached by one of the traders who said they weren’t getting any help from the council,” he said.

“The first time we went down, all the doors at the back of the market were shut which meant stores at the back were getting no trade. 

“To be fair to the council we asked if they could open the doors and they did.

“But the big sticking point has been the rent during the period that the market was closed. We thought it was a little bit unfair - other boroughs had suspended their rent payments, Rochdale and Bury did.

“Then, when the market hall reopened traders were told it would be closing an hour earlier at 4pm.

“It strikes me as common sense if you sign the contract for X number of hours and the landlord says you can’t open, you should pay less rent. We want some sort of refund for rent paid for when the hall was shut and a fair approach to the reduction in trading hours.

“We fully understand why they might want to close earlier. We’re not against that, but the traders are losing an hour of trade that they’re paying for.”

So far more than 1,500 people have signed the petition which will be presented to the council today (Thursday).

Dan added: “It’s hard for these traders to survive. If Ashton Market doesn’t survive, then neither does the town centre.

“We’re not cage rattling for the sake of it, we want our traders to survive. All we’re asking is that Tameside take a fair approach.”

In response a spokesperson for the council said they were working with traders to help them through these difficult times. 

They stated: “To ensure traders have been supported, our markets’ management has worked with businesses through what has been a challenging time for everyone.

“This work has been acknowledged by most traders who have let us know the systems now in place allow them to safely open with trade being steady and in cases, exceeding expectations. We have offered to support traders unable to resolve any outstanding amounts by agreeing to put in place a payment plan where payments can be made over a longer period of time. We are also continually reviewing social distancing and trading hours across our markets.

“Any businesses looking for support should email employmentandskills@tameside.gov.uk or visit www.tameside.gov.uk/safetameside.”

Independent town traders in Ashton are also calling on Tameside Council for more support.

Val Unwin, owner of Decisions Clothing, reopened after more than three months due to lockdown. 

The closure meant she missed what would have been one of her most profitable times of the season, with business still not returning to normal.

“I feel it’s time for the council to step up and do their part,” she said.

“We need our town centres to be an attractive place for them to visit, a safe place.”

Money has been made available to the council as part of a government scheme to help the local economy reopen safely, but independent business owners say that it doesn’t focus enough on what they want to see done.

Alf Hallworth, from Harrington and Hallworth Jewellers, has served the public from his Ashton shop for the past 38 years and says he’s never known it as bad as it is now. 

But, he says the pandemic has been a chance to rethink how people shop and he would like to see more done to encourage people back into local town centres, instead of Manchester City centre and out-of-town retail parks.

“People at this time are frightened to go into town centres,” he says. “People are going to stay local and we should encourage that, but we need an incentive to bring people back into Ashton.”

Alf’s suggestion is a loyalty card, rewarding shoppers for continuing to return to Ashton for their spending.

He said: “Loyalty is very important. My business is built on regular clients. I think we have got a lot of regular clients in this town that are very loyal and I feel they should be rewarded to stay with us.”

He wants to see the council tap into the wealth of business knowledge that independent traders in the borough have, consulting with them about decisions and ideas.

“I always say the council need a retail brain. They haven’t. They don’t know.

“I’ve 38 years of experience here but they’re not coming and asking.

“I’ll be truthful with you, if I was to start again I wouldn’t start in this town.”

The group suggest that, with the majority of people still working from home and car parks across the borough lying for the most part empty, shoppers could be enticed to return to town centres with free parking.

Spencer Grady of Grade A Jewellery explained: “Free parking isn’t a silver bullet, but it’s a facet - to use a jewellery term. 

“Look at a diamond there’s many facets that make that diamond beautiful and free parking would be one of the facets to get this town attractive to people who wouldn’t normally come here.

“People don’t want to get public transport because they’re not enforcing the masks so they’re going to use their own car. People haven’t got a lot of money.”

In a statement Tameside Council said that they were engaging with businesses as they come out of lockdown.

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