Nuneaton’s town centre market is heading for a different approach, if a new Borough Council operating plan comes into play.
Markets on a Wednesday and Saturday remain popular and long-standing features of the town’s shopping offer, with thousands of town centre visitors regularly making it a part of their shopping visit on each day.
If the cost-cutting measures and proposed savings go ahead, there could be changes to the way the market operates.
Members of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council’s ruling Cabinet agreed this week that traders should be consulted about the possible changes, which they were told would save the Borough Council around £85,000 per year.
Traders would also pay a reduced price for their pitch, helping them reduce costs at a time when town centre markets are struggling all around the UK.
Councillors heard a change is overdue, markets have changed as a result of the impact of the Covid pandemic, and existing Council equipment is approaching a date when it will need replacing.
The Borough Council already allows other outside providers to operate market-type activity on the precinct, but a consultation with traders last year rejected the idea of allowing a third party provider to run the weekly markets.
Portfolio Holder for Business and Regeneration, Cllr Kris Wilson, said:
“The rising costs of providing a market the way we do now, together with people's changing shopping habits nationally, mean we have to find new ways of doing things.
“We will listen carefully to the views of traders as we did last year.
“Unfortunately, ‘do nothing’ is not an option. We want a vibrant market to continue in the town, but we can’t continue to operate as we do now.
“The approaches we are looking at will help reduce costs for traders and the Council, and should help maintain a viable and lively market into the future.
“We are actively looking at alternatives, and will be keen to hear what traders have to say.”