'We need to move with the times' - Excitement and worry among Wellington traders over market regeneration plans
Plans for a £4 million refurbishment of Wellington's historic Market Hall have been met with a mixture of hope and trepidation by the town's traders.
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This week, Telford & Wrekin Council revealed early stage plans for a refurbishment of the aging Victoria-era market hall, having engaged architects and contractors to work on the project in February.
The scheme is in its infancy, with the local authority treading carefully arounds the concerns of its existing traders as it weighs up a final design for the building. But the authority is keen to get work started while government funding was available for the scheme.
A meeting was held with the market's 50 or so traders to gain feedback on the plans earlier this week, with most now having had the chance to see the initial plans for the regeneration, which it is hoped will get underway with summer with a projected finish date of mid-2026.
Whatever the scheme eventually looks like, the majority investment into fixing the fabric of the building, which Telford & Wrekin say is in a deteriorating state, will provide a much-needed boost for Wellington's economy.
Laine Slaven from Laine's Deli said she hoped the changes would see more customers through the doors - and a younger demographic brought in to the market.
"It can only be a good thing to modernise the market but also keep it as a traditional style market. Everything they said so far seems good, but it's now just about talking to store holders and seeing what they need," she said.
"It needs modernising but its also nice to keep the traditional market style here. We've had a chartership here since 1244 - it's been open for a long long time so it would be nice if we could recognise that, but also accepting that we do need to move with the times as well."
Roger Davis from Quality Flowers and Cards, who had been trading in the market for over 50 years, said he was still waiting to properly review the plans - but added was mostly pleased with what he had seen so far.
"It has the potential to be really good," he said.
"The market is the heart of the town and it needs looking after. If you look at other towns in the West Midlands, their markets are struggling without investment.
"The council have done really well since they came in with organising events, late night markets and things like that, so I'm definitely hopeful - but we'll just have to wait and see what happens."
On the stall next door, Matthew Palin from Oddpals Street Food said he liked the plans, despite the inevitable disruption the work could cause for some traders, adding it was going to be "rough" while work was carried out.
"If we can change a few things I think this market has every chance of succeeding. But to do that it's going to take a big investment," he said.
Not everyone was quite as enthusiastic for the changes. Book-seller Ian Rowbotham said he was worried about the impact the renovations would have on the market's traders, some of whom would be forced to relocate while work was taking place.
Telford & Wrekin Council say a scheme of rent reductions will be in place for traders who are forced to move but Mr Rowbotham, who said he had written to the council to try to establish a hardship fund for stall-holders, feared it would not be enough for traders who were struggling.
"There's a lot of work to be done, which could easily go on for 18 months or even two years with snags and things. Generally jobs go on longer than anticipated and that's a hell of a lot of disruption for the market," he said.
"We have rent reductions, which we're pleased about, but for a lot of the traders it won't be anywhere near enough. It's all too easy seeing traders having to leave and the problems that come with that.
"Only time will tell whether it's a success or not."
