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Market ‘is still going strong’

Damon Wilkinson
28/ 6/2008

DEFIANT traders have hit back at criticism of Rochdale market, saying it is still going strong.

As the Observer reported a fortnight ago almost half the stalls on the indoor market are vacant amid complaints that rents are up to six times higher than neighbouring Heywood and Bury.

Some traders told the Observer that the crippling rents – almost £1,200 per month – were forcing them to shut up shop and move out of town.

But Carrie Morgan, who, along with husband Martin has run M Electronics since 1989, says rents have remained the same for the last 10 years.

And she believes the market can thrive if the empty stalls and units in the Exchange Shopping Centre can be filled.

She said: "We stay because we like it here, we love the people and the town.

"There are a few stallholders who have been here for years.

"We all have our regulars and it can be a really fun place to be.

"But unfortunately with all the bad reports people seem to forget that.

"There are issues, we cannot deny that, and we are not doing as well as we were a few years ago but we are still making a living and so are many others.

"We have met with management on numerous occasions to discuss the empty stalls

and we realise the difficulties they face.

"But we have a good mixture of shops here and if we work together and get some fresh faces in we can return the market back to the way it was."

As reported on 7 June a spokesman for Rochdale Exchange management said: "We are aware of a number of factors facing market traders in the current economic climate.

"We are considering a number of proposals which market traders are aware of."