Opposition councillors slam council's 'mismanagement' and 'disloyalty' to Watford market traders

It emerged last week that an out of town Christmas market will set up in The Parade between November and January displacing the regular stalls.

Traders told the Watford Observer last week they feared the move might be the final nail in the coffin for their businesses.

The Conservatives blasted the council's "mismanagement" saying it has put stall holders livelihoods at risk and a solution must be sought before the issues "prove terminal".

They accused the Liberal Democrats of being disloyal to traders who have supported the market "through thick and thin".

But Elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill defended the move saying the Christmas market will be good for the town and that the traders who would be affected are not regulars.

Cllr Binita Mehta said: "Traders within the market describe current footfall levels as 'dreadful'.

"The problem of footfall has been exacerbated by the fact street stalls on Watford High Street, have far higher takings and a lower rent, leading some stall holders to re-locate to the High Street as a means of survival.

"To then be displaced by a visiting market shows the lack of respect for current, committed stall holders.

"Clearly Watford’s New Market is not meeting the needs of the stall holders or shoppers and a solution has to be found, currently revenue is barely exceeding rent and this helps explain why so many units sit vacant."

Meanwhile, Labour have condemned the council's apparent lack of consultation with stall holders and the traders association.

Watford Labour group leader Nigel Bell said: "Yet again the council has not been properly liaising with the traders. The Christmas market would be a great thing for the town, but further down the High Street.

"It's a shame all this money that has been invested in the market has not been backed up. There doesn't seem to have been the proper consultation with this decision, which could have been positive if the council had worked together with the traders."

He continued: "The market has been knocked about, battered and bruised. It's been very difficult for the traders. We hope it does survive."

Mayor Thornhill said: "The moving of the market had cross party agreement and it is typical that because it has not been as successful as we'd hoped that we are getting these comments. We are constantly in contact with the market traders.

"The Christmas market will be a good thing for Watford and bring more people to the town. Many people have asked me for it, other towns would love to have one and I am looking forward to a good festive season. The only people being disrupted are the street traders, not regular traders in the market. I have no loyalty to new people who have no loyalty to Watford."

In a statement, Watford Borough Council added: “The council has footfall or ‘pedestrian flow’ counters installed in the town. We can see from these that there are thousands of people entering the market from both the front and rear entrances every week.

"Our Big Events series has also boosted the number of people in the town centre – with more than 20,000 passing through the market during the week of Big Screen, for example. Last weekend, more than 9000 people came to the town centre for Big Sports Day, compared to about 5000 on an average Saturday.”