'They've run our indoor market into the ground'

Traders at Rotherham Indoor Market have accused the council of a "lack of transparency" over their futures amid ongoing redevelopment work.

As part of a multimillion-pound regeneration scheme, stall holders will move to a temporary outdoor market while the current building is developed.

But traders have said they know nothing about the moving date, rent or the number of pitches.

Rotherham Council has called for "patience and cooperation" as it prepares the move and said it would make the transition as "smooth as possible".

The council received funding from the government's Future High Streets Fund to pay for part of the improvements at the market. The original costs for the town centre developments were £36m.

A new library, cafe and gallery will also be built as part of the work.

Some traders said takings were down 60% last year with footfall even lower, as concern grows that when they do move to the temporary market, their customers will not follow.

Craig Thompson's card stall Forget Me Not Cards has been a fixture of the market for 54 years, but will close on Saturday.

"They've run the place into the ground," he said.

"They've not done anything with it. It's dirty and grimey, they haven't cleaned the front windows for eight years.

"I've seen traders here sat behind the stalls crying.

"I've watched businesses that were booming literally reduced to nothing."

Scott Bramley has run Discount Carpets with his brother Ben on the ground floor for 15 years.

He said the "lack of communication" from the council was the problem.

"It's shocking. They're not treating us like business owners. They're treating us like we're thick," he said.

"As a sole trader I need to know how much we're paying going into this temporary market, just because if it's too much, I won't go there.

"We're expecting to close for two weeks while we relocate but with no compensation, no payment, no nothing.

"We've heard they will give us two weeks free rent, which is bare minimum, but I cannot go two weeks without any money coming in."

Lyndsay Otterwell has run Pear Footwear from a corner unit upstairs at the market for 16 years. The store has been in her partner's family for 51 years.

She said everyone had struggled for two years since the redevelopment work first began.

"We've got no passing trade," she said.

One of the main entrances to the market on Howard Street was closed as part of the development work.

"It was always a busy thoroughfare and overnight the access was cut off," she said.

"Takings have dropped dramatically - we're approximately 60% down but the footfall is far worse."

Otterwell described the uncertainty over the future as "extremely stressful".

"I have sleepless nights. Do they have sleepless nights in the council?

"Are they worrying where their wages are coming from and how they're going to put food on the table?"

Although Thompson will not be moving his card stall to the temporary market on Drummond Street, he is concerned that customers will not follow his fellow traders.

"The customer base is all in the late 60s," he said.

"They've been coming here for 50 years, and we're expecting these to walk all the way around, past a building site, walk down 50 steps, to a market nobody can see."

Andrew Bramidge, executive director of regeneration and environment at Rotherham Council, said: "Our market is entering an exciting phase in its redevelopment and we're grateful to all our traders for their patience and cooperation as we move into this next stage of the project.

"The outdoor covered market revamp has been designed to ensure that every existing trader has space while work continues on the long-term transformation of the wider building.

"We expect the traders to move in early summer, and we are working closely with our construction partner to finalise the details.

"All traders have been allocated suitable space. We're meeting with traders this week to discuss their specific arrangements, including fees and the support available to them."

Bramidge added: "To make the transition as smooth as possible, we have set aside a two-week decant period to allow traders to move across.

"We understand this is a period of disruption, and we will be confirming this week the package of support that will be available during the move.

"These improvements represent a major long-term investment in Rotherham's market, central library and high streets.

"Without them the markets building would sadly not be sustainable for the long term and sadly we would eventually be looking at closure.

"As we secure a modern, vibrant market offer for the future, we remain absolutely committed to supporting our traders every step of the way."

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