Thursday 2 September 2010

ACCRINGTON MARKET HALL DISPUTE

Cllr Ken Moss is currently working closely with Milnshaw's Cllr Clare Pritchard (Labour) and also Huncoat's Cllr Dave Parkins (Independent) to improve trading conditions at Accrington Market Hall.  The building recently underwent a £2.5m renovation but went considerably over budget and new tenancy agreements for the stallholders are set to raise rent to unacceptable levels whilst forcing them to work much longer hours and a sixth day each week for a trial period of three months.

Cllr Marlene Haworth (Conservative) has been largely responsible for overseeing the project and stated that six-day trading will bring the market traders into the 21st century.  The pilot scheme has been almost universally panned by the stallholders who would prefer to see the existing five days promoted in a more positive way.  A sixth day would require each stall to hire extra staff in order to cover whilst restocking at the cash and carry, something many of the traders simply cannot afford to do.  Longer hours of 9.00am - 5.00pm are also impractical for several traders, particularly the butchers.

Cllrs Ken Moss and Clare Pritchard will be putting questions to Cllr Peter Britcliffe regarding how taxpayers' money from across the borough has been spent at the next meeting of the full council on 14th September.  Members of the public are welcome to come and sit in the viewing gallery and proceedings start at 7.00pm at Accrington Town Hall. 


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