IT has been claimed that 70 per cent of independent traders in Wellington are struggling to make a living.

Cllr Marcus Barr told members of Wellington Town Council on May 7 at the authority’s annual meeting that local businesses were finding it hard to survive and that his concerns were not being heard.

“I know that my views are falling on deaf ears,” he said. “But 70 per cent of independent shops in Wellington are just barely rubbing their noses – they aren’t making a good living.”

His comments came after council discussions continued about inviting market traders into town on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Cllr Barr believes that introducing stallholders in the town centre could spell more bad news for the permanent traders.

“This could be the final nail in the coffin for some of our shops,” he said.

But Cllr Mark Lithgow said there was evidence to prove that markets actually increased footfall in towns which could be of benefit to other traders.

Councillors voted in favour of supporting recommendations made by the council’s economic development committee on April 16 to support the street trading project for an initial 12-month trial on Wednesdays and Saturdays and to judge its success on bookings and profitability.

Gaining street trading consent permission from Somerset Council would cost the town council £531 for the year, but that would be quickly recouped through charging £45 a pitch for a stallholder.

Councillors believe that not only would market traders give shoppers something extra when in town, but would also raise much-needed revenue for the council at a time when it has taken on a lot of extra services from cash-strapped Somerset Council.

Cllr John Thorne, at a previous meeting, said: “This is all about trying to make our town centre more vibrant. Let’s give it a go – suck it and see.”