Rochdale market traders pay six times the price

Traders on Rochdale Market are paying almost six times more rent than their Heywood counterparts.

Some stallholders are paying almost £1,200 a month to run their pitches and one Rochdale Councillor fears they are being forced out of business as a result.

Following the revelations Councillor Farooq Ahmed wants the Council to consider plans for a breakaway market in Rochdale town centre.

He said: "Half of the stalls on the indoor market are now empty. Meanwhile, a few miles up the road Bury market is full to capacity. The most expensive stall at Bury costs £149.10 per week – half the price of Rochdale.

“I know a lot of these traders personally and they are really suffering as a result of these high rates.

“How can they be paying double the rate that Bury Market traders pay when they don’t get anything like the support or marketing that traders get in Bury? They are being forced to move out because of unreasonable rates.”

Councillor Farooq believes that there is a feeling among small traders across the town that an anti-business culture is starting to take root and that other towns offer more support to businesses.

He continued: “The town needs a thriving market as this creates a good atmosphere and gives the place a lift."

“You only need to look at Bury Market to see the coachloads of visitors it brings in. The extra footfall helps other traders and the buzz this generates gives the town more confidence. If the owners of Rochdale Market are intent on driving market traders out of business why won’t the Council consider an alternative market? If they charged supportive rates and made sure it was properly promoted I think there would be no shortage of traders willing to sign up.”

One possible location for an alternative market would be near the Butts, previously the venue for visiting traditional continental markets.

Councillor Farooq said: “We used to have a market near the Town Hall and I think this area misses the hustle and bustle of a lively market. It’s an ideal location as it’s very visible and is framed by the most imposing building in Rochdale."

He concluded that markets played a vital role in the local economy and were often the springboard for entrepreneurs to move on to bigger things. “Rochdale should not underestimate the role a market plays,” he said. “It is sad to see traders being driven out of town and I hope the council will consider stepping in to create a more sustainable model."