Tills ring as historic Walsall Market bucks trend

Walsall Market is making a profit of almost £136,000 a year as traders scramble for a stall on the historic pitch, latest figures showed today.

The main town centre market is continuing to thrive despite other pitches having been axed or struggling to attract traders and customers.

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Traders and shoppers today had their say over what makes the 800-year-old market so popular, although some voiced concerns over the price of rents.

Market trader Tony Rogers, who runs the Field Fresh stall and shop with his wife Julie selling plants, fruits and vegetables, said the market was an "asset" to the town.

The 47-year-old, of Manor Road, Streetly, who has been running the stall for 20 years, said: "We've done really well this year. We have a hard core of regular customers.

"There are plenty of good traders here. There's still a call for the market."

Christine Edwards, aged 68, of Malvern Drive, Aldridge, said she liked using the market to shop for groceries due to its convenience.

The grandmother of three said: "This market is easy to get to and it's all in one place. There's usually lots of people and the traders are very helpful."

Mother-of-one Ella-Marie Witton, 44, of Union Street, Chuckery, also praised the market, which she visits once a week to pick up necessities.

"It's good for bargains and it's convenient to get to," she said.

Walsall market has 100 stalls and dates back to the 13th century.

It was moved from its old High Street site to a new position on The Bridge two years ago.

Tony Larner, of the Market Traders Association, said the market was bucking the trend of many others and attracting stallholders.

"There is a big demand for Walsall Market and we want to try and get more stalls," he said.

"You could put another 10 or 20 stalls on there and they would fill. It is a good draw being in the town centre with all the shops there."

However, some traders on the market say the price of pitching a stand is hitting stallholders hard in the pocket.

Mandy Dean took over running the 150-year-old family fruit and veg business with her brother Jason Stevens almost 10 years ago.

The 43-year-old, of Burntwood, said: "It's a good market but everyone is struggling at the moment. The rents are too high."

Nasir Hanif, who has been running a haberdashery stall on the market for over a year, said he pays £60 a day to trade at Walsall Market, compared to £37 a day for twice as many stalls at Dudley.

The 32-year-old, of Hollyhedge Lane, Birchills, said: "It's a good little market, but the rent is too high compared to elsewhere. "Times are hard and people haven't got the money."

Great grandmother-of-two Margaret Edwards, who visits the market to do her weekly food shopping, said she recalled when it used to be much better. The 72-year-old, of Green Lane, Pelsall, said: "It's not as good as it used to be but it's not the same anywhere. If they dropped the rates for traders, it might make it more attractive for others to come on."

It emerged earlier this month that Willenhall Market is poised to lose Walsall Council almost £50,000 this year while Darlaston was axed earlier in the year under cost cutting measures.

Brownhills Market which was relaunched by private operators on behalf of the council was also pulled in the summer due to a lack of interest. Income from Walsall Market, along with Bloxwich which makes a profit of around £20,000, is helping to cover the deficit of the pitch in Willenhall. Figures show it costs around £493,634 a year to run the

Walsall event on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and brings in £629,617 – meaning a profit of £135,979.

The 40-stall Bloxwich Market, off High Street, has an annual income of £68,603 compared to its operating costs of £47,602.

Council chiefs are currently looking at ways to drive down costs at Willenhall having already made £27,000 in power savings.