Fury at extra days for Cannock outdoor market

Stallholders at Cannock Indoor Market are unhappy about the extension which will see the Friday market trading an extra day tomorrow.

The market was also allowed to trade yesterday.

Traders say they are losing hundreds of pounds a week because of the outdoor market but Steve Evans, manager of Bescot Promotions, the company behind the scheme, said he believes there is room for both markets to succeed.

He said: "I think given time the Friday market will help to rejuvenate the town.

"I am looking forward to seeing both sets of traders selling their goods over the Easter bank holiday."

The Friday market, which features 20 stalls was launched in November in a bid to help the struggling town centre but dozens of traders signed a petition demanding the market be scrapped because it was having a negative impact on their sales figures.

The indoor market is normally open Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The outdoor market is just Fridays. But this week they were both allowed to trade for an extra day yesterday . The outdoor was also allowed to trade yesterday.

Melvyn Taylor has been running Melvyn's Butchers in the indoor market for almost 25 years.

He said: "This is one of our busiest times of the year but it will be difficult for us to sell our products if the outdoor market is there.

"I understand that everyone has to make a living but people have only got one purse and if they spend all their money outside, they will not come indoors.

"On average our trade is down by around £600 a day so this is just another kick in the teeth.

"The council thinks it is helping by allowing both sets of traders to sell over the Easter weekend but it is doing the exact opposite."

More than 40 stallholders say sales have slumped by up to 50 per cent because they claim traders are selling the same kind of wares.

Carpet trader John Baker said: "I am losing thousands of pounds and I am putting it all down to the outdoor Friday market.

"Nobody comes in here anymore because they see everything being sold outside."

Council spokesman Jamie Summerfield said allowing both markets to trade during Easter would encourage more people to come into the town.

He added: "We are opening both markets for extra trading and want to remind customers the indoor market will be open as usual."