Bridgend market fears as council set to shut temporary site

It is still unclear if the indoor market will be able to reopen in the future.

In a letter to market traders, the council said the total number of traders who had indicated interest in the temporary accommodation “did not materialise” and “over the course of the last year a number of others have vacated”.

“This has resulted in a very large unit for a small number of traders that is having to be heavily subsidised by the council,” it said.

“Due to its ongoing financial position, the council is having to make the very difficult decision to withdraw from the temporary unit and hereby provide you with three months’ notice to terminate your current tenancy.”

It said the last date of the tenancy would be 16 March 2025.

The council said the decision was made “with a heavy heart” and apologised that the news came before Christmas.

“We really appreciate your support of the temporary market hall… [we] felt it important to give you as much notice as possible in order that you can hopefully find suitable alternative premises.”

Mr Bletsoe said the council, which is Labour-run, “know full well the market traders don’t have enough income to run it themselves after they lost their position in the original market”.

“We’re a chartered market town with a long history of markets and we fear this could be the end of the market in Bridgend. I cannot see the indoor market ever reopening without significant, immediate investment in an alternative location,” he said.

“People are losing their livelihoods and for the second time in just over a year they’re facing a very uncertain future.

“It’s a sad day for the town.”