Council considering rent reduction for certain days at Northampton market as traders fight for survival

A number of market traders who were calling for more help from the authorities will be pleased to hear that the council is considering a rent reduction.

While lockdown measures have eased, the threat of tighter local restrictions and a generally quieter town centre has made it difficult for stallholders.

One even described the situation as the ‘survival of the fittest’, due to trying to stay above water while paying full rent and getting very little trade.

Some traders are desperate for more support to ensure their future in the historic market, which Northampton Borough Council has taken on board as it is currently discussing offering a rent discount on certain days.

The council says it remains committed to supporting the traders and will be discussing with them the potential reduction in due course.

Eamonn Fitzpatrick, fruit and vegetable stall holder who has been on the market for 57 years, told the Chronicle & Echo: “Everyone is struggling at the moment. We would like to say we aren’t, but we are.

“I’m paying £500 a week rent, which is a lot of money when trade is so quiet.

“One trader made £3 all day the other day - that’s not even enough to cover their bus fare.

“Saturday rent is far too high, it was all right while trade was good, but not now.

“There is more life in the local cemetery than here on a Saturday.

“The town centre needs a kiss of life, the council lowering the rent and offering free parking is what this town centre wants.”

Another stall holder, who sells cards, also told the Chronicle & Echo that they were struggling to keep up with the full rent payments as the market has been ‘dead’.

The trader was so concerned that they were not sure how long they would be able to stay on the market due to struggling to pay rent.

During the pandemic, the council has given out nearly £30,000 in grants for regular market traders, which stall holders were grateful for, although as the struggles have rumbled on for more than five months, some now feel like they need more help.

Les Brannan, stall holder for LJB Rutherfords, added: “Some traders will not survive. It’s survival of the fittest at the moment. I hope to still be here, after all I have been here for 55 years.

“The council can only do what they can. Other councils have done more, like Wellingborough has given a £10,000 grant and three months free rent, but others like Bedford have done less.

“If Northampton could afford it, I’m sure they would help out more.”

In a bid to lend a helping hand to the traders and keep more of them on the market, the council is now looking into reducing rent on certain days.

Councillor Phil Larratt, Deputy Leader of the Borough Council, said: “As part of our commitment to supporting Northampton’s market traders, those who decided not to trade during the lockdown period were not charged any rent, and this agreement remains in place and under review.

“The cost of renting a stall starts from as little as £6 a day, and prices have remained the same since 2013, when they were reduced by 25 percent.

"Business support grants, totalling £29,500, were also paid out to those traders who trade on the market for three days a week or more.

“The market remained open throughout the pandemic, with the fruit and veg, and butchers stalls offering an absolutely vital service.

“We sympathise with the concerns of our market traders, and we are considering a rent reduction for certain days, which we will be discussing with them in due course.”

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