Market no-show by town traders

The future of Brownhills Market was plunged into doubt today after stalls were left deserted at the weekend.

Not one trader set up shop at Silver Street on Saturday – less than two weeks after the Tuesday market was axed and four months after the historic market was relaunched following a contract wrangle.

Today, Walsall Council's deputy leader, Councillor Adrian Andrew, branded the stay-away traders "selfish" and accused them of letting the people of Brownhills down.

"The council has done what it can to support the market traders, but for some reason they don't wish to participate," he said.

"At the end of the day, it's down to the market traders to support Brownhills Market. I think they've behaved selfishly towards the shop and high street traders and let down the town as a whole."

Councillor Andrew added: "Every other market in the borough was busy on Saturday.

"We've offered them the six week discount in rent at Brownhills, but it has been thrown back in our faces."

Brownhills ward's Councillor Barbara Cassidy said one stallholder had turned up on Saturday, only to leave upon realising he was on his own.