What can be done to breathe new life into Top Town's market? Will the vibrancy of yesteryear ever return?

                                      

Two customers - were they the only two? - head into the market hall earlier today.   

A SHORTAGE of customers and traders is continuing to cast a shadow over the market hall in Grimsby's Top Town.

The latest figures reveal that  the occupancy levels for between April and June this year was just 32.5 per cent. 

This represents a  decline of  4 per cent compared with the previous three months.

A  North East Lincolnshire Council report states: "Traders indicated the reason for terminating their licence was due to difficult trading conditions and a reduced footfall. 

"The market received four enquiries in this period, with two traders progressing with a licence, but  with only one continuing to trade and take advantage of the trader rent incentive scheme."

It continues: "A review of the incentive schemes to attract new traders to the market has been undertaken, and options to increase the offer period is being considered. 

"The pop-up incentive scheme has remained in place to give new or young traders the opportunity to trade on the market and test new products before taking on a licence. 

"We are also liaising with the National Markets Trader Federation to understand opportunities to engage young market traders and attract new traders from the wider region.

"The markets social media activity continues to publish regular posts, promoting the market rent incentive schemes, our traders and their products and services. 

"Some market traders have offered a 10 per cent discount to businesses located in the town centre to encourage shopping on the market. 

"The market team has supported local events by providing gazebos and offering events space on the market. 

"An up-and-coming charity supporting and offering advice for children suffering with kidney disease  held a coffee morning to help promote the charity, utilising the stall space dedicated to local charities." 

The council has medium-term plans to build a new market hall, but is there evidence to suggest that this will be any busier than the one it is intended to replace?                                                

The brutal sharpness of the fluorescent strip lighting scarcely makes for the most alluring of destinations