WITH the fierce ongoing debate about the future of the town’s market heating up this week, The Standard is calling on readers to help shape its future.

Redditch Labour Group put forward a commitment to re-establishing an outdoor market with an alternative budget at Monday’s full council meeting.

The Conservative Group voted against it, stating the market traders were happy indoors.

But Labour refuted this, claiming the traders would welcome the return of the outdoor market.

The market traders

We put both stances to the traders and found opinions were split over the market’s future.

Jewellery stall owner Anthony Read said: “It’s much better in here.

“Nobody was using the market when it was outside, we were losing more and more traders.

“Being inside people know where we are, and trade has improved.

“I’d much rather stay inside.”

But Fraz Hussain, from the mobile phone stand said: “I’ve been running this stall since I was 18 years old and it’s only since we moved inside I’ve been this quiet.

“I’ve lost nearly all of my old customers, and people don’t know that I’m here.

“I feel we’re looked down on as well, the atmosphere isn’t the same.”

Chris Sutton moved his Reddi Appliances business into a shop following the closure of the outdoor market.

He said: “I would move straight back into the market if it was outdoors.

“I’ve no interest in trading out of the Kingfisher as it doesn’t have the same atmosphere as the outdoor market.

“The public need to have their say and show the demand for an outdoor market is there.”

Mark Kovacevic who runs a fruit and veg stall in the indoor market, said the damage was already done.

“It’s not that we’re happy here like the Tories have said, it’s just too late now.

“If we moved back outside I’d have to start from scratch with no guarantee of customers.

“They’re both using us as a political football to point score against each other.”

The politicians

Redditch Labour leader Joe Baker favours the return of an outdoor market.

Coun Baker said: “We would not be forcing any traders outside as we understand some traders wish to stay indoors, we also consulted with a wider group of traders who were extremely positive about the prospect.”

He added the group would buy foldable wooden stalls, offering affordable rent for market traders and the capacity to include specialised market stalls and days, such as food festivals, local farmers and arts and crafts markets.

However, Redditch council leader Matt Dormer, said Monday’s meeting clearly demonstrated Redditch Labour wanted to ‘take the town backwards’.

“We recognise Redditch was a market town and are working to provide themed markets such as artisanal, farmers and craft fairs,” said Coun Dormer.

“We have been working with Muj Rahman from the BID to deliver this and already had some food fairs in the town.”