Wandsworth is to stump up £25,000 to ease the burden on market traders facing rent increases.

The council admits the increases due early next year "will almost certainly jeopardise the continued trading of some market traders" and result in even less income, out of which it has to pay for costs such as street cleaning.

There was anger from traders back in September when an average 28 per cent rent rise was announced, taking the basic pitch charge up from £228 to £280 a month.

With the exception of Northcote Road in Battersea, the borough's markets are ailing, and Wandsworth said it would draw up an action plan.

Traders accused councillors of just sitting back and cashing in while the markets collapse, but Wandsworth argued it was not allowed to make a profit from the street trading account and that rent increases were unavoidable because of the increased cost of street cleaning.

The Regeneration and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee was expected to agree the extra cash last night (Thursday), which will take the basic cost of a pitch down to £245 a month. It was also due to rubber stamp the action plan, which has now been finalised. The council's executive will also need to give its permission.

Wandsworth plans to extend the Northcote Road market by 12 pitches on Fridays and Saturdays and rental charges will better reflect the popularity of each market.

Officers will also help traders with the presentation of their pitches, identify sites for specialist markets and take strict action against unlicensed traders.

Wandsworth also wants greater control over shops that set up chairs and tables on the pavement, and will put revenue from licenses into its street trading account to further ease the burden on rents.

Regeneration and Transport executive member Councillor Guy Senior said nothing will go ahead without full consultation. Extending Northcote Road will mean a loss of parking spaces, for example.

But he said he had received positive feedback so far from informal chats with traders.

"Obviously they want to keep their rents down and spread the costs between more of them and for us to find a sensible way to deal with chairs and tables on pavements," he said.

November 12, 2001 12:32