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Friday January 20 marked the end of an era for Caerphilly town as its indoor market, which has stood for almost 100 years, closed its doors for good.
The council wants to demolish the Pentrebane Street building, which encompasses the indoor market and the former Checkmate/Pulsars nightclub, for housing and office space.
Caerphilly Observer has been told up to 74 flats could be built there.
Last month, the council secured £1.89 million of Welsh Government funding to help towards the creation of its new “container-style” market on nearby Park Lane.
The construction of the market is subject to a planning application – which was submitted in October, and is yet to be decided.
If approved, the market will have 33 shipping containers, which will be home to a range of shops, restaurants, bars, and offices. Additionally, it is proposed to have space for pop-up stalls and outdoor music events.
But many of the traders, who been forced to pack up their businesses and leave the indoor market, feel left behind by the big plans.
Kevin Grant, who ran Castle Tackle and Bait at the market, started a petition last year to “save our market”, which gained 750 signatures.
Despite closing in the 1990s, plans for a skatepark in the building never came to fruition, and the indoor market reopened again in 2010.
In his petition, Kevin questioned where in Caerphilly traders could find new premises due to “sky high” rents on the high street.
Many of the traders paid as little as £375 a month in rent, which included bills. This was significantly cheaper than what they could have paid on the high street, which usually starts at around £1,000 a month before utilities and business rates are factored in.
The council’s deputy leader, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, said the council has “provided the option of significant help to all market traders” by offering grant funding to help them find alternative accommodation in the town centre.
He continued: “The Council has provided a large amount of financial support and that needs to be recognised”.
What next?
Cllr Pritchard described the building housing the indoor market as “in private ownership and in a state of disrepair.”
He welcomed an “exciting new chapter with ambitious proposals to redevelop the site”, including the nearby “new, fit-for-purpose market” which he said will “house significantly more traders in the heart of the town centre”.
He continued: “Discussions are ongoing with various stakeholders to secure acquisition agreements before any demolition works are progressed and options are being considered for the final design of the new planned development at Pentrebane Street.
“No Compulsory Purchase Orders have been progressed to date, but this will remain an option as the scheme progresses over the coming months.”
Cllr Pritchard added: “The council has offered all market traders the option of grant funding to assist traders with a package of support and funding to help them find alternative accommodation in the town centre.
“It is encouraging to see that previous tenants of the indoor market, including a butcher and mobile phone repair shop, are now operating successfully in new sites within the town.”
Meanwhile, Caerphilly Bird Rescue, which was based at the market until its closure, is appealing to raise £100,000 to secure a new building to move into on Treforest Industrial Estate. At the time of publication, nearly £12,000 had been raised through JustGiving.
Traders ticketed
While moving their belongings out of the market on its final day, some of the market traders complained that their cars were ticketed by council traffic wardens on Pentrebane Street – on what was already a difficult and emotional day for many associated with the indoor market.
Responding to these claims, a council spokesperson said: “The officers would have been unaware of the activity taking place on that particular day and were just undertaking their normal patrols and enforcement duties.
“There is an agreed appeal process in place if motorists wish to challenge a fixed penalty notice and all such appeals are considered on their merits.”
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