Latest notice issued regarding the closure of the wholesale market

A council has refused to reconsider its decision to close the Wolverhampton Wholesale Market after traders demanded further negotiations.

In a final notice, Wolverhampton City Council formally wrote to tenants to inform them of its position and said legal notices were being sent to terminate leases.

James Thomas, who runs the flower market, said the other proposed locations were not suitable and asked for financial help with the move.

The council said it could no longer afford to build a promised new market and needed to prioritize services.

Mr Thomas said: “On the one hand it’s quite sad. None of the tenants want to leave the site. But it does provide a bit of closure.”

He explained that traders were looking for a site the size of a supermarket, with parking that trucks could use, but that the council had proposed smaller units, “scattered all over the place”.

He said traders wanted to make it known they were not closing but moving.

Traders were seeking legal advice because, until a few months ago, they were expecting a new building and now had to cover the moving costs, he added.

Notice served

Wolverhampton City Council’s statement said: “Given the council’s current financial challenge, there is no way it can afford a new £6m building for private traders or the £272,000 running costs associated, while its priority is to provide essential services. »

He continued: “There is no legal obligation on the council to provide housing to a small number of private businesses, nor is it appropriate to effectively subsidize for-profit businesses with public money. taxpayers.

“Up to 12 months’ notice has been served. This exceeds the minimum duration contained in the rental contracts signed by traders.

“The council has engaged with tenants to suggest alternative sites in the town and we will continue to support them in their search.”

Follow BBC Wolverhampton and Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X And Instagram.

Learn more about this story

Related web links