Market traders angry at flooding issues

Market traders angry at flooding issues

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Rochdale Market has come under criticism again after rain on Thursday (19 February) caused areas of the market to flood.

Wahid Hussain, who runs a clothes stall on the market, said: “It is ridiculous. There is no drainage anywhere on the site so there is nowhere for the rain to go. How are we supposed to work like this?”

Rain hit Rochdale throughout the day on Thursday with a number of traders choosing to close up early or to not trade at all.

Mr Hussain added: “I doubt I have made a penny because of the weather. The rain is leaking through the cabins as well so it is making everything wet and unsafe. Traders have gone home or shut early because there is no business when it is like this.”

Bashir Mohammed, another clothes seller, said: “We can’t work like this. People don’t come in the rain and it is making things worse. The site has been covered in water and no one wants to come.”

Many of the traders had left the site by 3pm on Thursday.

Councillor Farooq Ahmed, who has been campaigning for traders since a number of issues were raised at the beginning on the year, said: “I am disappointed again. There is no adequate drainage system on the market and this was one of my concerns before people moved there. The area was tarmacked over very quickly without drainage and now the traders are suffering. It is hard for them to load and unload when it is flooded and the water can cause damage to stock.

“Rochdale Council need to take action on this because we do need a market but the traders aren’t happy at the minute.”

Derek Mack, from Environmental Management at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “A small number of traders reported concerns about the rain during a period of particularly bad weather this week. In common with traders on all outdoor markets, some of the stallholders had to move stock further inside their cabins or under canopies to keep it dry.

“In the long term we plan to develop a new market on The Butts and the market will move from its current location, which was allocated as a temporary measure to enable the market to continue for the benefit of the traders and the wider community of Rochdale.”