Bury Market traders have spoken out as funding from the council - which has been in place since the closure of the indoor market - is set to come to an end.

In October last year, the market was shut immediately due to the discovery of reinforced aerated autoclaved concrete (RAAC) in the roof structure which posed a safety risk.

Following the closure, 49 traders from 62 units who operated within the hall were either relocated, had their units reconfigured to continue operating, or arranged alternatives for their business.

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Some traders were given the option to move into the Mill Gate Shopping Centre and have been continuing to pay their rent based on their original unit.

The council also covered costs for utilities, service charges and business rates for traders occupying the Mill Gate with that support reviewed after a year. 

The support has been taken up by 13 stallholders.

But now the council is set to stop that support from March next year, having already spent more than £268,000 to subsidise traders.

A council report, prepared ahead of the cabinet meeting on Wednesday night, states that the cost of the emergency response to the closure of the indoor market hall is more than £950,000.

Julie’s Elegant Nails is one business which moved into the Mill Gate and has been there for five months.

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Owner Julie said: “At the moment I’m still OK but I don’t know about next year because March is a quiet time.

"I don’t know how much I’ll be paying in rent, and the Mill Gate haven’t told us.

“Someone said the rent in the Mill Gate is around £1,000 per week.”

Julie said she hopes she can stay where she is next year but is still waiting for more information which should be released in the next few weeks.

She added: “This month has been a very quiet month, in July and August during holiday time is OK.

“I was in the market for 18 years and I’ve been here for five months and lots of people still don’t know we’re here.

“I’ve lost a lot of customers because we were closed for five and a half months, and business still hasn’t picked up.”

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Another business that moved to the Mill Gate is Terry’s Jewellers.

One employee said: “Everyone’s going mad about it.

“They think it will be a few grand and we don’t even earn that in a week because its quiet in here because we’re not in the market that people used to use as a bypass.

“A lot of people have said that it’s taken months for them to find us because its not advertised well as to where we’re located.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen until the Mill Gate give us a price on this place, but if it’s extortionate then we can’t afford to stay here.

“It’s wrong.”

Market traders also said they are upset that there seems to be a lack of progress about work at the market hall since RAAC was found, while plans for the proposed flexi-hall seems to be moving ahead.

In response, Cllr Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture, economy and skills, said: “The market hall closure was completely unexpected, but it was necessary to protect traders and the public.

“We have done everything we can to find alternative premises for traders to operate from, and provide financial assistance by way of rent-free periods, relocation grants and paying their business rates and utility bills.  

“We cannot, however, sustain this support for ever.

"Given our limited funds, and huge budget pressures in other areas such as adults’ and children’s social care, this level of financial support cannot be sustained in the long term. 

“However, we fully appreciate how disruptive this has been for traders.

"This is why we will continue to financially support them for a further six months, including over the Christmas period and throughout the slower trading period at the start of the year.

“If approved by cabinet, this will allow traders sufficient time to either negotiate a formal lease with Mill Gate or consider alternative arrangements.”

Other traders affected by the RAAC situation were able to trade from their perimeter stalls, reconfigured entrances, open market locations or decided to make their own arrangements

And earlier this year, the council commissioned consultants to examine five options regarding the future of the market hall.

These included demolition, refurbishing, and others.

The council said it is still analysing those options and will make a decision in "due course".

Cllr Morris added: “We remain fully committed to our famous and award-winning Bury Market, recognise the vital role it plays in supporting the town centre economy.

“It will play a vital role in the town centre regeneration, which includes improving the existing outdoor market and building a new multi-purpose flexi-hall, along with plans to comprehensively develop the Mill Gate centre.”