[Margaret Pilkington]

Working that extra day also costs money(staff, electricity, time etc)....money that doesn't seem to be finding its way to the traders....so it is an uneconomic proposal. Now if, let us say, the council were to slash the stall rents for the proposed length of time of the trial.....just so that the footfall could be measured, and the economic possibility could be more accurately determined....then perhaps, just perhaps the benefits(or not) could be proved and the stall holders would be more amenable.

Failing that, what is wrong with opening the market hall so that the cafes and the upstairs units can operate, along with any stall holders who feel they can afford to trade?

HBC needto keep the Market Hall stall holders on their side, otherwise the money that they have paid out in refurbishments will go down the pan.