Angry stallholders at today's Wednesday outdoor market asked shoppers to sign up to the "Save Alsager Wednesday Outdoor Market".

Furious traders do not want the market, in the Fairview Avenue car park, to go inside Alsager Civic, with some saying this could mean the end of the market altogether.

Alsager Town Council agreed not to replace outdated gazebos and anchor points used by trader for the market in Fairview car park.

Alsager resident Sue Helliwell has launched a petition earlier in says it's simply not good enough - and has launched a petition https://www.change.org/p/save-alsager-wednesday-outdoor-market?source_location=topic_pageto keep the outdoor market in its current format.

Sue Helliwell

"Some Alsager town councillors voted to cease financially supporting the market in March. How are Town Councillors now saying they have the financial support for the Civic?

"There will be extra hours for staff that will be needed to paid. Good manners would have been to speak to the market traders to hear their view and understand they wish to trade outdoors.

John Farrell, who works for Oakwood who have a stand ever week at the market said: "There's a few more years left in these gazebos which the council provide.

"There's a few more years left in these gazebos which the council provide," claims one trader.

"All the things the council is saying will happen won't work. How can stall holders work from their vans?"

Julie Williams who runs 'The Fill Up Shop' which is at the market every Wednesday just can't see it working.

"Taking the market inside will mean we won't get the footfall. Even if signs are put up saying it's inside,who will read them?

"It will mean the end of the market. This is all such a bad idea and the pet stall holder won't be able to have dogs in the Civic. Most of her customers have dogs."

A spokesperson from another trader, Clem's Traditional Greengrocers, is also worried.

"Being outside works. I just can't see us getting the same number of customers inside Alsager Civic."

But Alsager Town Council say it's taken the move to save money and keep council tax for residents as low as possible.

Chair of the town council, Cllr Phil Williams said: ""At its meeting on 10th January, Alsager Town Council resolved to cease the provision of market stalls and gazebos on the Wednesday Market but to allow traders the ability to trade from their vans, and to investigate alternatives for those who trade from stalls.

"This is to be implemented by 31st March 2023. As a result, the town council has absorbed the management administration within the budget and withdrawn the proposed financial support for replacement gazebos and anchor points. 

"A total capital saving of £17,000 has been made. 

"We do want the market to continue but it was clearly not cost-effective to run it in its current form. The council is talking to traders in order to develop an alternative."