Hopes to resurrect market

Urgent talks are to be held in a bid to resurrect Brownhills Market, it emerged today.

Ward councillors will meet with Walsall Council leader Mike Bird to attempt to hammer out a possible solution.

The market, which had been running for 37 years, closed last Saturday after owners Spook Erection Ltd failed to agree a new lease with the local authority. Around 50 traders had faced months of uncertainty while the two parties tried to agree contracts.

It was revealed in January that the council was considering not allowing the market to carry on after an explosion in rogue traders.

But Brownhills Councillor David Turner said today he was organising talks with Councillor Bird and fellow ward councillors Barbara Cassidy and Alan Paul.

Councillor Turner said: "The market has been a part of Brownhills for many years and as a way of extending this, we have spoken to Councillor Bird, who will be urgently meeting with the three Brownhills councillors with a view to looking at keeping a market going."Personally, I would like to see Walsall Council take on the running of the market on a temporary basis until a long term solution can be found."

He added: "Something needs to be done and done quite quickly."

Councillor Barbara Cassidy said she wanted to see Walsall Council act quickly to take the market back into its control.

"We need to get it sorted quickly so we can welcome bone fide traders back into the town," she said.

Walsall Council chief of regeneration Adrian And-rew had previously said the council had been exploring other options.

He said: "Officers have already been looking at options which include the possibility of the council running the market.

"We want to ensure that Brownhills does not lose its market – and we are working hard to try and ensure this."