Market traders 'disgusted' by Christmas closure

Stallholders at an indoor market have said they are "outraged" by a decision to close the building between Christmas and New Year.

Wellington Indoor Market was bought by Telford and Wrekin Council in November 2023, but this is the first time it has had to close during the festive period.

Stallholder Roger Davies described the decision as "disgusting".

The council said it had canvassed traders and a majority were happy with the change - but those who spoke to BBC Radio Shropshire were adamant they had not been consulted.

Lisa Longland has been running her delicatessen for nearly 20 years, and this will be the first time she has had to close between Christmas and New Year.

"I was gobsmacked, to be honest," she said.

"How can somebody tell me, with my own business, when I can and when I can't open?"

Lisa said her "loyal customer base" was "absolutely appalled".

"They buy their food from me all year round, and then at this busy time when they've got their friends and family coming and they want to give them nice, local, fresh produce, they can't," she said.

Just across the market from Ms Longland, Roger Davies has been running Quality Cards and Flowers for more than 50 years.

It is especially popular at Christmas, with shoppers keen to pick up cards, wrapping paper and wreaths.

Mr Davies said the period between Christmas and New Year was "one of [his] busiest weeks" of the year, with "crowds of people" flocking to his Boxing Day sale.

"It's going to turn the whole of Wellington into a ghost town, giving our trade away to other towns in other areas," he said.

For Aidan Short at Malcolm Wickstead Butchers, the period between Christmas and new year is important, with customers keen to pick up supplies for new year parties.

Aidan said traders selling fresh food were worried about having to get rid of stock.

"At Christmas time we'll have to keep stock levels lower than we would have done, and therefore won't be able to sell as much, and may run out of things that people want," he said.

The council maintains that it canvassed traders before making the change, with 88% saying they were happy with the decision.

Marcus Limb and Aaron Hollyhead from the M&A Watch and Discount stall remained adamant that was not the case.

"The council have not consulted with us at all," Mr Limb said.

"We've heard on the grapevine that they have done - which is an absolute, total and utter lie. We were never asked.

"It's not just the fact that we're closed, it's the fact that there's two incomes to come out of it," Mr Hollyhead added.

"We've got families to feed, and it's just soul-destroying, absolutely crazy."

A spokesperson for Telford and Wrekin Council told the BBC the Labour-run council "undertook a canvass of market traders to ensure they were happy with the proposals around the market Christmas opening times.

"The conclusion of the canvass was that of the 42 who expressed a view, over 88% (38) were happy with the opening proposals.

They continued: "In light of the findings, and there being such a very small number who were against them, we checked with the traders again who were happy with the proposals and their views have not changed.

The authority said the opening hours were in line with previous years, with additional operating days prior to Christmas in exchange for days between Christmas and New Year.

"We will make no further comment on commercial negotiations with traders and we will be issuing no further comment on the day-to-day operational issues of the business going forward," it concluded.

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