'Fair deal' call on Burnley market (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

'Fair deal' call on Burnley market

9:00pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in Burnley By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

MARKET traders in Burnley are becoming ‘increasingly concerned’ at rent rises as new arrivals are paying substantially less, according to the town’s MP.

Gordon Birtwistle told a full council meeting that he had been approached by one trader who had been on the market for three years.

The MP said that her main complaint was that rents were going up on the Curzon Street indoor market.

But she was also concerned that new arrivals were being given reduced deals not available to more established stallholders, said Mr Birtwistle, who is also a borough councillor.

“People are coming in, on short-term leases, and then leaving when they have made their money,” he said.

“We are going to lose the good ones because they are paying higher rents than those who are just staying for three or four months.”

The market fees have risen by just under three per cent in this year’s budget, with the initial charge for a stall, from Monday to Thursday, rising from £19.10 to £19.65, for licensed traders, and £20.40 to £21 for casual users.

The new deal, listed in the council’s accounts, will see the price for the first four weeks for a trader, rise from just £14.45 to £14.90.

Coun Andy Tatchell, deputy council leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said that ‘generous’ incentives to encourage new traders to establish their business on the market.

“If they are starting up a new business in the town then we should be helping them,” said Coun Tatchell.

“The pricing regime is fair and has not changed since this Labour administration came to power.”