Business news
“Naff all” for sale in “ghost town” Brownhills
For a second Saturday, struggling Brownhills Market was all but deserted as both traders and shoppers stayed away in droves. Only two traders bothered to set up their stalls – the previous week, none did.
Trader Christopher Charley, who recently moved his business after running a stall at Brownhills for 12 years, was pessimistic over the future of the market.
“We are now in Walsall town centre and are building it up slowly. We have even seen a few regulars from Brownhills come here,” he said.
“It’s such a shame, when Brownhill’s was in its heyday I used to employ three people, now I only employ one. It has cost people their jobs and turned Brownhills into a ghost town. It is wrecking a lot of livelihoods.
“I don’t think there is anything that can be done now. There were so many things that could have been done a little better but it’s a little too late. I don’t see it ever coming back.”
Cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor Adrian Andrew has accused market traders of being “selfish” and of giving up on Brownhills.
“We plan to try and get some people up to the market who actually care about Brownhills,” he said.
“It started off quite successful, but I think there are some selfish people who are trying to make Brownhills Market fail. The shop traders and the traders of Brownhills deserve better.”
Brownhills Councillor Barbara Cassidy said: “It is a massive problem, the whole of Brownhills High Street is a massive problem. Clearly the downturn is having an effect on how many people are coming to Brownhills to shop.
“However, there are 26 fast food outlets on that High Street, most of which are not open in the day so people aren’t coming to Brownhills because there’s naff all to buy and that is one of the factors that has affected the market in my opinion.”
The market reopened in September last year and at the time, Leader of the Council Mike Bird, said: “I’m really pleased to say that things are very well advanced for the opening of Brownhills market on 5 September.
“A lot of hard work has gone into this and the reaction from traders and Brownhills people has been amazing.
“There is a real swell of support for this venture and it’s great to see people get behind it.
“We are on course to have all 80 stalls taken by traders. That’s fantastic news and something to really shout about.
“We wanted to step in to save Brownhills market because we believe in the town and it’s town centre. It will be great to see shoppers and traders new and old return on 5 September on what looks set to be a full house.”
The Tuesday Market in Brownhills closed for good in January as Walsall Council announced plans to move the Saturday Market from Silver Street to the High Street leading to further uncertainty over its future.