Walsall Council is pushing ahead with a series of changes to its three markets in a bid to save up to £60,000, despite warnings from opposition councillors that the plans do not go far enough. The markets in Walsall, Willenhall and Bloxwich operated at an overall loss of £106,000 for the financial year 2025/26, prompting the authority to take action.
The overhaul was debated at a scrutiny committee meeting on September 8, where deputy leader and portfolio holder for regeneration, Councillor Nicky Barker, said Reform UK in Walsall would do their 'very best' to achieve 'better town centre markets in the future'.
Willenhall Market changes draw criticism
At the meeting, Councillor Simran Cheema, Labour councillor for Willenhall, described the proposed changes for her town's market as 'papering over the cracks' and said they 'don't go far enough'. Her comments came as the council revealed that planning permission had been approved to install 12 permanent stalls at Market Place in Willenhall, with any additional stall holders set to use pop-up gazebos.
One of the most contentious changes is the decision to remove tables from the rent fee for stall holders. Currently, traders have tables included in their rent, but under the new arrangements they will have to supply their own. Councillor Cheema said she was concerned that the change could result in losing traders 'over something as simple as tables'.
However, Stuart Webb, group manager for leisure, bereavement and commercial services, said that while tables will no longer be included in the fee, the council will now supply roofs where previously that was not included. He added that he was aware of only one trader who has a problem with the supply of tables.
Parking and promotion concerns raised
Councillor Cheema also raised several other issues during the scrutiny meeting, including how difficult it is for new stall holders to get into the market, the social media page for Willenhall Market – which the council has posted on six times this year – and parking permits for stall holders. She said the existing parking situation means traders have to leave their market stalls midway through the day to pay for further parking.
The concerns highlight the practical challenges facing traders as the council seeks to make the markets more financially sustainable. The changes are part of a wider effort to address the £106,000 loss across all three markets.
Recommendations for future improvements
Following the debate, councillors at the scrutiny committee meeting made several recommendations. They called for further promotion of Willenhall and Walsall markets, in line with what has been done for Bloxwich, more engagement with traders about their concerns over the proposed changes, and exploration of funding opportunities for events at all three markets, as well as in Brownhills and Aldridge.
The recommendations signal a broader ambition to revitalise markets across the borough, with the council now expected to consider how to implement these suggestions while continuing with the cost-saving measures already underway.
