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Traders at Birkenhead market are divided over the plans to relocate to the Pyramids Shopping Centre. According to the BBC, some have said they "can't wait". In contrast, others have alleged they've been told there is no room for them.
Work has now begun to transform the former TJ Hughes setting into the market's new home following traders objecting to moving into the former Argos store in Birkenhead. The market is set to relocate by the end of this year.
Speaking to the BBC, Mike Eccles, who runs Billy Hill Curtains, the market's longest-running business, is eager to move. He said he "can't wait" to relocate and that the current market is "half empty".
Fellow trader Mark Jones agreed, saying in a statement: "We need a change. I think the move will be great business-wise and will help the market grow." Despite his optimism, he spoke about his concerns that the new site may not have a "proper market feel as it will be like a shop in a shop", but he still welcomed the change.
Clothes shop owner Jin Dhillon said he is "really looking forward to the move after a few years of being in the unknown". He pointed out that there is less business in the current market, and that the new location will have "more footfall".
However, not all traders are keen on the move.
Valerie Hudson, who has traded in the market for 25 years, said she would not be moving to the new location, claiming she has been told there is no room for her, according to reports from the Local Democracy Service. She said she has been "absolutely disgusted" with the treatment of some traders.
A spokesperson for Wirral Council said relocating Birkenhead Market was a priority, and it is essential the move is smooth for "both traders and for the future success of Birkenhead town centre". The spokesperson said they worked closely with traders and communicated with them to support them through the proccess.
They added that the "overwhelming majority of current traders are moving to the new market" and that decisions about the allocation of units had been made through an assessment process within the practicality of the new building. The focus had been on "working together to create a sustainable, vibrant market with the right mix of businesses to give the market, and the traders within it, the best possible chance of long-term success".
Still, the council acknowledged that despite positive feelings about the relocation, they understand not everyone is keen on uprooting their businesses to the new location.
