Town bucking economic trend with surge in market traders

AT a time when many towns and cities are looking at gloomy forecasts for their high streets and markets, traders in Barnsley are experiencing a surge in custom which is also attracting new businesses.

In keeping with its history as a market town, the opening of a number of new businesses within the market has been hailed as good news.

The interim town centre manager, Anne Untisz, said: “During the last six months we have seen 14 new traders taking up stalls within the market hall and the semi-open market.

“This means that not only is the choice of goods and services available for local shoppers getting wider, but despite times being tough, there are still people who are keen to set up a new venture, which can only be good for our town’s economy.

“Markets can breathe life into our town centres, serving all tastes from bargain value to premium specialist goods.”

Despite the traditional retail high streets feeling the impact of the credit crunch, with rising levels in vacant stores and stagnating rents, this does not seem to be true for Barnsley.

During the same period 15 new shops have either opened, expanded or relocated.

These have ranged from financial and professional services, through to consumer goods, cafes and restaurants. This has resulted in 26 new full-time and 53 new part-time jobs within the town and eight positions being retained by stores that have relocated rather than moving away.

It is also good news at the Mall shopping centre, where trading is up overall compared with last year despite regional trends seeing a decline.

There have been three new stores open in Barnsley and a fourth is due to open before Christmas.

The Mall has also seen major investments by three of its existing stores renovating their premises.

The manager of the Mall, Mark Broadhead, said: “Our stores report that they are trading above their expectations and the level of new openings is a sign of optimism.

“This means up to 40 new jobs are being created in the Mall, ranging from sales assistants to store managers.

“Barnsley shoppers are also keen to keep abreast of what’s happening here, our Facebook site having the largest number of fans in the Mall’s portfolio.”

The Mall is fully let – all the shop units are booked – for Christmas

The president of the Market Traders Federation, Geoff Blackburn, said: “As I am speaking the market is buzzing. The market as a whole, retail-wise, is slightly bucking the trend.

“Footfall has increased when there is free parking on a Saturday and that is a tremendous help. The multi-storey car park could not be situated better.

“When it was planned around 30 years ago I don’t know whether that was the intention or nor or it is just sheer luck.

“The way things are the town centre is keeping itself alive and we are hoping for even better times to come.”

Barnsley Council’s Cabinet spokesman for development, Bill Newman, said: “This recent trend is fantastic news for both traders and shoppers in Barnsley, as well as providing a number of valuable job opportunities within the town centre.”

The executive director at Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Denniff, added: “It is very pleasing that numerous new ventures are springing up in the town centre, showing the confidence of those people who have identified the heart of Barnsley as being a place in which they can trade successfully.

“The creation of jobs through the birth of these new businesses, and an increase in the offer to shoppers in the town centre, can only be positive for Barnsley.”

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