Struggling Sandwell market traders are offered vital cash lifeline
Outdoor market traders in Sandwell hit by the coronavirus lockdown can now apply for a share of £100,000 in business grants to help them get back on their feet.
The cash is being offered by Sandwell Council using unclaimed government grants set up to help local businesses.
Sandwell Council’s cabinet is being recommended to approve the scheme which is open to market traders and lease holders who were unsuccessful when applying for support in June.
The cash injection is part of the government’s Discretionary Business Grant (DGS).
Market traders selling non-essential items reopened their businesses in June but many open-air stallholders complained they hadn’t received any financial support during the lockdown.
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Their disappointment turned to anger when Sandwell Council announced rents would return to their pre-Covid levels by August along with a two per cent increase.
The rise led to a ‘come-see-for-yourself’ challenge to senior councillors so they could hear from traders of the impact of coronavirus.
Council bosses are now asking Sandwell’s cabinet to extend the time limit for grants saying: “In order to maximise support to Sandwell businesses and utilise the funding available it is proposed that the DBG scheme is broadened to target two business categories – outdoor market traders and Sandwell lease holders.
'Unfair'
“Both business categories already financially transact with the council and will therefore enable grant awards to be made swiftly and ensure compliance with the time scales.”
On August 20, the market revealed it 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.
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.
"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.”
A report to next week’s cabinet shows the authority has paid out £2,260,000 from the scheme to 285 businesses in the borough.
Councillors will discuss the recommendation at their meeting on August 27.
