Trader exodus raises questions over Market Hall future

Questions are being asked again over the future of Welshpool Market Hall after it was revealed that a number of traders are calling it a day this summer, and the Mayor has labelled it “tired” and “run down”.

The future of the Market Hall has been a regular topic of discussion, but after Markets Officer, Kimberley Wright, reported at this week’s Operations & Development Committee meeting that the café was now vacant and that three more traders are off before the end of July, it drew a critical comment from the Mayor.

“What’s the policy of the diversity of the stall holders and quality of what they are selling?” asked Cllr Phil Owen. “If we could try and improve the general appearance and quality of the market and what they are selling, I think it would attract other people as well and make it more profitable for everybody involved.

“I think, at the moment, it is just so tired, so run down and we don’t want to be replacing people that have had enough with people that are coming in that aren’t going to be any better, frankly.”

His comments drew criticism from Cllr Estelle Bleavas, who responded: “Why don’t you, Mr Mayor, come to a traders’ meeting and explain that to the traders instead of just telling us. It’s one thing telling us that the quality is quite poor of what’s being sold; come to a traders’ meeting and tell that to them.”

Ms Wright pointed out that one new trader was incoming and that there were two more showing an interest. She also highlighted that pop-up units were available, chargeable per day.

Operations Manager, Paul McGrath, reminded councillors that the future of the Market Hall was one of the main points in the ongoing consultation for the Town Hall’s future.