Operator pulls plug on Stourbridge farmers' market

A farmers' market in the Black Country has folded after more than seven years because of dwindling stall numbers and concerns over its site.

Sketts & Co, which has run the market in Stourbridge since 2009, confirmed the monthly event was no longer "commercially viable".

The number of stalls has fallen from more than 80 when it was first launched to just eight in recent months. The falling numbers of traders over the past year has been given as the main reason to close the site.

But the organisers also blamed the market's location in Coventry Street as a contributing problem saying the street was not busy enough to boost trade.

Dudley Council said it was "very sad" the market had folded and was eager to hear from other groups willing to take it over.

The market was operated for six years by LSD Promotions before being taken over by Sketts & Co.

Originally it also spread down Market Street and Lower High Street and at its height had more than 80 stalls.

LSD bosses pulled out claiming the market could not expand in the location and uncertainty over what would happen when the nearby Crown Centre was redeveloped.

When the market was relaunched by Sketts it had around 25 stalls. This fell to just eight at the end of last year.

Manager Russell Dean said: "The number of stalls has dropped off in an incredibly short space of time and we had to make a decision on whether to run it for another year.

"Part of the problem was the location. Coventry Street is not part of the town centre with a high footfall and this would obviously have been of benefit."

Mr Dean said they would consider returning to Stourbridge in the future — but only if the council could offer a better location in the town centre.

Dudley Council deputy leader Councillor Les Jones said: "It is unfortunate but unless anyone comes along willing to run a market there is very little the council can do."