Council News

This page is a news release published by Wrexham County Borough Council.
Content Author: pressoffice@wrexham.gov.uk

13 January 2012

Wrexham Council and Market Traders - Planning for the Future

Market traders in Wrexham have been given a New Year boost with the help of the local authority. All tenants at Wrexham's indoor markets will receive a rent concession of 25% to help them through the three most difficult trading months of the year – January to March.

Market traders in Wrexham have been given a New Year boost with the help of the local authority. All tenants at Wrexham's indoor markets will receive a rent concession of 25% to help them through the three most difficult trading months of the year – January to March.

A variety of incentives are also available for new tenants in the three indoor markets and the twenty-seven shop units owned by the Council in Wrexham town centre.

Wrexham Council has introduced a variety of incentives to help increase trade in the town centre in recent months.

Last year the Council introduced free parking after twelve noon at two of its car parks in order to help both businesses in the town centre and shopper.

This year, the Council is continuing to look at ways in which it can help Wrexham businesses and in particular its own retail tenants.

Councillor Rodney Skelland, Lead Member for Regeneration and Corporate Governance said:

“The Council is committed to helping businesses wherever it can. There are no grants available for the retail sector and so to be able to reduce the rents over the short term whilst we continue to discuss the best way forward will ensure that the next steps taken are those wanted by the traders.”

Barry Williams, from Beauty Box in the People’s Market said:

“We are very pleased that the Council has taken the time to listen to the traders concerns and to take immediate action to help. This is most impressive as sometimes the wheels of democracy seem to turn slowly.”

The news comes as a further boost to town centre businesses. Skillsmart, the National Skills Academy for Retail, carried out mystery shopper exercises in the town centre in 2011, announcing in October that Wrexham shops had come fourth out of 87 towns surveyed in Great Britain for its levels of excellent customer service. Two of the indoor market traders achieved 100% in the scoring and all the market traders surveyed achieved over 90%.

Despite this, 2011 was another tough year for retailers and town centres across the UK. In her report on the UK High Street, Mary Portas highlighted the importance of markets and the independent sector in creating town centres that are different and attractive to shoppers.

Wrexham Council had already addressed some of the points raised by the report such as introducing the free car parking and is now working actively with the Town Centre Forum and the market traders to plan for the next three years. The rent concessions will help the traders during the planning period before the programme of works and further investment takes place.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Ron Davies, the Deputy Leader, Cllr David Bithell and Cllr Skelland, have met representatives of the indoor markets to discuss the current national and local retail position.

David Picken, of Scrapped 4 Cash in the Butchers’ Market added:

“The Council often gets blamed for events that are out of its control or for not listening, but this will make a big difference to businesses and will really help so a big ‘Thank you’ to the Council.”

“The Council is listening to traders at long last. This is good news for the markets and I am very pleased with the proposals for the next year,” said Alun Hughes from Film, Music and Nostalgia in the People’s Market.

The Council has further plans to help support the markets and to regenerate them over the next year. The funding is in place for some refurbishment and there are also plans for a greater web presence, improved signage and for increased marketing.

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