A longstanding city market is set to close because operators say it is not making enough money, as shocked traders speak of their sadness.
Traders at Angel Place Market in Worcester city centre were handed letters about the decision by operators Cotswold Markets Ltd on Friday as the managing director blamed falling attendances, rising costs and reduced income.
Many of the traders declined to be named and some said the decision had come ‘out of the blue’ while others said they were ‘not surprised’. The market, which has nine traders, includes stalls selling records, a florist, a food outlet and one selling garden ornaments.
The decision will only affect the Angel Place Market, not other markets in the city run by Cotswold Markets which also operates the Victorian Christmas Fayre.
UNVIABLE: The Angel Place Market in Worcester is no longer viable say operators Costwold Markets (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Stallholders have been urged to contact Worcester City Council if they want to carry on trading. The final day of trading at Angel Place is set for Saturday, August 29.
Operators told stallholders they ‘prolonged the closure’ in order to give them ‘as long as possible to find alternative arrangements’.
In the meantime, the market will continue trading between 9am and 3.30pm, Thursday to Saturday.
The letter from David Joynes, the managing director of Cotswold Markets, said: “As you will be aware, attendance levels at this market have dwindled significantly over recent year, which makes business difficult for both you as traders and Cotswold Markets.
DIFFICULT: Cotswold Markets has made the commercial decision about Angel Place Market in Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
“With low attendances comes reduced income and when that is paired with ever-rising costs of operating, things have become very difficult. We have attempted to reduce our operating costs by discussing potential storage solutions for the market equipment with Worcester City Council, but unfortunately a suitable storage facility could not be found.
“With this in mind, we have had to make the very difficult decision to withdraw from operating Angel Place Market. This is not a decision we have made lightly, but we simply cannot continue to operate at a loss for the sake of keeping the market open.”
One trader, who declined to be named, said he did not think footfall had dropped.
“I heard the council didn’t know anything about it. It’s just sad. A lot of the business around here get customers from us. Stallholders and customers are not happy. We want to carry on here,” he said.
One stallholder, who wished to be known only by his first name of Adrian, said: “Everyone is really disappointed and sad. I’ve been here 10 years. The footfall is there but they’re just not spending.”
Another stallholder, Serena, said traders had been squeezed into one section of Angel Place because of the ongoing work on the Scala Theatre which is undergoing a multi million renovation.
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“That certainly hasn’t helped traders. They can’t get the traders on here because there isn’t the room,” she said.
Pete Round of Greedy Pete’s Grilled Cheese and Baketin, said when he received the letter from Cotswold Markets, it was ‘a real shame’ but he had yet to hear anything from Worcester City Council.
He added: “Nobody can say anything until we know whether the council is going to pursue another operator.”
Mr Round explained that traders used to be able to store their equipment at the Scala Theatre but because of the work on the building, the operator was now having to bring in the equipment every day.
A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said: “This is a commercial decision made by Cotswold Markets. Cotswold Markets continue to be our markets operator and will still be running the High Street markets and other special markets across the year.”
Speaking after the decision, Mr Joynes said he was ‘very, very sad it’s come to this’.
He said: “We can’t make the market pay. Nobody is in business to lose money and it has been losing money for the last couple of years.”
