LIKE retailers generally, the market traders of Thame it seems are feeling the pinch in the current economic down turn, and have turned to Thame Town Council for help.
Secretary of the market traders, Chris Hurdman, told town councillors that many of his colleagues were struggling to survive and that five of them were leaving the market after Christmas. He appealed to the council to consider at least putting a freeze on the traders’ rents and if possible, to reduce the rent for the next year or two to help them weather the storm.
The Chairman of the Thame market traders, Mike Braun, told ThameNews.Net today: “Five years ago, if someone left the market, there was a waiting list of 14 – 15 traders to replace them, now we are quite desperate to find replacements.
“We must make sure that we do not lose the market in Thame, or that it becomes like Banbury, half what it was and looking a mess, by offering affordable rents to help attract new traders.
“At the moment, the people of Thame are supporting us and we are just about all right but we need to attract a new breed of stall-holder. Any help the council can give us, would be much appreciated.”
The council agreed to meet in the new year to consider the market traders’ request.
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