'A sad day for Tipton': Break-ins and virus crisis spell end for indoor market
A popular indoor market in the Black Country will not reopen after the coronavirus pandemic, bosses have said.
Great Bridge Indoor Market, in Tipton, had closed down at the beginning of lockdown but – unlike other neighbouring markets – had not opened again after lockdown restrictions eased.
It has since been revealed the market will close permanently, due to high rates of Covid-19 in the Sandwell borough, "unfair" neighbouring competition, and "expensive" break-ins.
Locals called it a "sad day for Tipton" as the market had been a fixture in the Great Bridge area for 30 years.
Based just one mile from junction 1 of the M5, the market was known to be easy to find, popular and "great for bargains".
Stalls ranged from fruit and veg, fresh fish, greetings cards, furniture and household goods, fashion and dvds.
It was managed by events company Sketts, which has confirmed the market will now not reopen.
A spokeswoman for the firm said: "Sketts have been closely monitoring the situation and statistics with regards to reopening the market.
"Public Health England considers Sandwell a “cause for concern” and it remains on the government watch list with the R factor still high.
'Devastating'
"In addition, the indoor market was also becoming increasingly unviable due to unfair competition with surrounding authority run markets offering subsidies to traders.
"Together with expensive break-ins and Covid 19, we feel that currently the market has come to its natural end.
"We have been in communication with the full time traders, most of which have found alternative arrangements with other markets in the area.
"We have also kept our website up to date for adhoc traders and the general public via greatbridgeindoormarket.co.uk. We keep the option of reopening under constant review.”
Tipton resident Lisa Done said it was "absolutely devastating news".
She added: "A lot of the traders I talked to feel very angry and betrayed."
And fellow resident, Steve, said: "Another sad day for Tipton. Great Bridge indoor Market will not be reopening and has closed its doors for the final time. The building has now been gated off. Tipton- Sandwell's poor relation."
