New modern market stalls welcomed by traders

Traders have welcomed the first of a series of new purpose-built modern market stalls.

The first four, which have their own lighting and internal power source, will replace the current stalls on Wednesfield High Street and be in use from 18 August.

They are being installed as part of wider improvement work happening in the town centre, which remains on track to be completed in November.

"The future of Wednesfield Market is bright," Jon Paul Allen, who runs a key cutting and shoe repair business, said. Further stalls are currently being manufactured and would be installed over the coming weeks.

The stalls would provide a more modern and consistent appearance for the market, while improving infrastructure for traders and supporting future events and activities, the City of Wolverhampton Council said.

"The traders are looking forward to using stalls that are more fit for purpose and have easily accessible power and individual lighting, which will help a lot," Allen said.

The majority of the funding for the market stalls has come from the government's Pride in Place Impact Fund, which supports communities.

Qaiser Azeem, the council's cabinet member for resident services, said he was delighted to support the market traders by providing the new market stalls.

Sureena Brackenridge, MP for Wolverhampton North, said local traders had been raising the need for better stalls for some time.

The High Street improvement works include new paving, lighting, planting and seating, as well as improved pedestrian crossings.

The plan will also create new events and activity space, improve access to and signage from car parks and provide "more attractive" pedestrian routes from Bentley Bridge in the south and from the north.

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