A tale of two markets
While Cannock market is bursting at the seams Rugeley's indoor market is struggling to attract traders. The market, which dates back to the 13th century, has been at its current site at Rugeley Market Hall since 1980.
While Cannock market is bursting at the seams Rugeley's indoor market is struggling to attract traders. The market, which dates back to the 13th century, has been at its current site at Rugeley Market Hall since 1980.
But it can only currently manage a 68 per cent occupancy rate, which is seven per cent lower than the UK average, while near-neighbour Cannock market is now bursting at the seams and is 98.5 per cent full. Both of the indoor markets are managed by Cannock Chase Council.
Richard Walker, aged 56, has been the owner of Meat to Please You for 22 years and worked there for over 30 years said: "I'm a specialist in home cooked meats which you can't get anywhere else in town so my trade is quite good really. But it is pretty dire in here, it is the worst I've known it.
"I suppose things went sour when the council introduced car parking charges. It's a Catch-22 really, we are lacking on footfall and so we are lacking in traders but we are in the middle of a global recession and there isn't really an answer to it."
The council already has some intiatives in place to try to reverse the situation, such as a rent concession scheme.
This is where new traders get a rent reduction for their whole first year of trading where they pay 50 per cent in the first six months and then 75 per cent in the second six months.
A photo booth was also installed after residents lost the one that was inside Woolworths and the Bread Basket stall has also recently reopened, supplied by Tennants Bakery.
Councillor Danny Davies, the council's town centres development leader, said: "It's difficult because Cannock market is actually doing really well and is almost fully occupied.
"Rugeley market is going through a bit of a dip because we are in a recession and because the area is not as affluent as Cannock.
"We want it to be thriving and prosperous place and it is a nice market, it is clean and the stalls are wide."
He said the solution would not lie in cutting car parking charges but in traders' initiative and inventiveness in promotions.
He added: "When times get tough, traders are the most inventive around. If they can come up with suggestions and tell us then we can take them on board."
By Dawn Fellowes
