Private cash plea on relaunch of markets

Markets are set to be relaunched in a Black Country borough, with a private business partner being sought for the project.

Under plans to revitalise markets in Sandwell, council chiefs are currently looking for a company to help them transform the vacant town square in Oldbury into a bustling market place. The authority is also planning a new farmers market in Bearwood and a new market in Newton Road, West Bromwich.

Councillor Mahboob Hussain, whose neighbourhood and housing portfolio includes responsibility for markets, said: "This is a long-term plan to develop a thriving market in Oldbury.

"Only one or two stallholders are turning up at the moment. We recognise that if we could get more stalls in, there would be benefits for the whole town.

"We will be considering introducing rent-free periods to encourage stallholders to come to Oldbury but we need a private developer to get on board."

In August, Sandwell Council granted consent for new stalls in Oldbury's town square and in Newton Road, West Bromwich.

This would allow a market to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Sandwell Council has discussed plans to offer traders six to 12 months rent-free if it can make sure the markets are full up.

The authority last year paid private consultancy group Quarterbridge £17,000 for a report into ways the borough's ailing markets can be improved.

It advised the council to get private companies involved to boost trade.

In addition to the plans for new markets in Oldbury and West Bromwich, proposals for a new indoor market hall in Wednesbury have been revived. Proposals for a market hall off Union Street were announced in 2005 but the idea was dumped by the council two years later. It is now being looked at again following the consultant's report.