South Holland market traders given extended free rent period to boost town centres
The extension of a rent-free period for market traders in South Holland has been described as proof of an ambition to "encourage a vibrant and varied town centre experience" in the area.
Stallholders at Spalding's traditional Tuesday market learned this morning that a pause on charging for pitches in Market Place and Sheep Market, brought in when the street markets reopened in June, will go on until March 2021.
Markets in Crowland, Holbeach and Long Sutton, where a road closure in Market Street for stallholders to trade on Fridays is to continue into the new year, will also benefit from the rent holiday backed by South Holland District Council cabinet members during a meeting today (Tuesday).
Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, the council's portfolio holder for environmental services, said: "I am really pleased that cabinet members have agreed to extend the free period for traders until the end of March 2021.
"This will provide traders with further invaluable support over the Christmas and New Year period, as well as giving the town centre improvement groups the opportunity to work with traders and other representatives to find a fee system that works best for everyone involved.
"In the long-term fees are an essential part of all markets, not just to cover their running costs but also to manage the quality of offer on those markets.
"However, with the changing and difficult impact of coronavirus still ongoing, I hope that this free period can help our traders and reaffirm the fact that markets are an integral part of our future plans.
"They are also part of our ambition to encourage a vibrant and varied town centre experience in South Holland."
As well as the extended period without having to pay fees, existing traders also received a £5,000 grant in August to help cushion the impact of the pandemic which led to the closure of street markets between late March and mid-June.
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council highways officers have confirmed that road closures in Long Sutton on Friday to allow the town's weekly market to take place will be extended until at least January 2022.
