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Plea to Bilston shoppers as huge Wolverhampton market rebuild starts

Market traders in part of Wolverhampton are urging locals to keep using them, as work begins to redevelop a 200-year-old outdoor market relocated to Bert Turner Boulevard, High Street and Church Street in October, to make way for the the same time, the indoor market remained in the same place and traders claim they have lost footfall due to the other market moving. The authority said it had frozen rent for traders and would be holding events to attract people to the area. Nick Brown, who runs Electrical Discount in the indoor market, said: "It's quite challenging. We have asked the council for some short-term help but that was declined." Work on the £5.2m scheme will see existing structures demolished and the market's entrance at its original site improved. Traders hope that, once the work is done, business will be "better than ever"."I think people's turnovers have decreased in here but I want to say it's still a tremendous market," Mr Brown said."Keep coming because we love to see you and we need to see you."For some outdoor traders, the temporary move has been a positive. Sarah Logie runs a clothing stall, which moved from the outdoor market site to the high street. "For me, I like it a lot. I feel here, even though we were great on the other market, I've got new customers," Ms Logie said."Because a lot of people didn't come into the other market, so we've kind of got both of them now. "So actually this has been good for me." Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal told the BBC: "We care about our traders. We are going to put together a package for our traders. "There is a £15,000 grant that we have secured, where we are going to hold events here that will attract people into the market. "We've actually frozen rents as well, so there will be no rent increase."The redevelopment will see the creation of a flexible, multi-use events and market space, along with new car parking and taxi drop-off spaces, new retail units and public plans also include a new canopy to cover outdoor stalls, a retail unit as well as a refurbishment of the indoor scheme is due to finish in June 2026. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.