Northampton market traders given a helping hand through ‘difficult time’ as council reduces Saturday rent

A helping hand has been extended to market traders as they weather the storm that is the lasting effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Northampton Borough Council has confirmed that rent will be reduced for traders who wish to occupy a stall on Saturdays.

The decision to offer cheaper rent comes after traders called for more help and support as the pandemic has hugely affected trade and the business of the town centre, generally.Eamonn Fitzpatrick, who has run a large fruit and vegetable stall on the market for more than 50 years, previously told Chronicle & Echo: “Everyone is struggling at the moment. We would like to say we aren’t, but we are.

“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.”

Since the announcement that rent would be reduced, Eamonn has said the cheaper rates, which take his Saturday rent from £180 to just over £90, will be a ‘massive help through the winter months’.

The council has told traders that rent will be 45 percent cheaper on Saturdays until December 31.

Eamonn added: “It will help but we are in difficult times and the streets are scary as they are so quiet.

“We are screaming out for more traders, it’s depressing looking round at the moment.

“I remember the time when you couldn’t get a stall for love nor money, but times have changed.

“I think more traders will come back now - I hope they do.

“I don’t think it’s enough to save the market. I think they need to do it for more days as well.

“The town is on its knees - something has got to happen.”

In an earlier statement, when Northampton Borough Council was considering the rent reduction, other support offered to traders during the pandemic was laid out.

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.

Now that the rent reduction has been confirmed, Cllr Larratt, added: “As promised, we reviewed the situation and have applied a discount which we believe is reasonable and will hopefully help the traders through this difficult time.”

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