Market traders win a stay on rent increases (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Market traders win a stay on rent increases

Wednesday market traders in Wootton Bassett have welcomed the Town Hall and Trust Charity's decision not to increase market rents.

Rents have remained static at £20 for a stall the last two years since the town council became trustee to the charity.

Members were asked to consider whether rents should be raised, causing fear among traders who have been reporting difficulties this year due to the town's struggling economy.

But their fears were abated on Thursday when members unanimously voted not to increase the rents.

Before the vote, charity chairman Coun Chris Wannell asked members to bear in mind that the Wednesday traders were having a difficult time which was made no easier by new car parking charges.

"The business fraternity in Bassett is extremely fragile at the moment and that must be considered," he said.

The charity also agreed to lower the rent charged to farmers for their monthly market for a three month trial after hearing that farmers were suffering as a result of a rival bi-monthly market in Malmesbury.

Coun Percy Miles put forward the proposal that the rent should be reduced. He said: "There's no expense to us on the days that the Farmers' Market is on.

"I think it would show good faith with Christmas coming up if we lowered the rent from £10 a stall to £7.50."

Mark Stanton, chairman of the Wiltshire Farmers' Market Association, welcomed the reduction but added: "As an asset to the town it seems strange to be charged at all."