A market trader in Coventry has said he is concerned his business might not survive as he has seen sales plummet amid a lengthy redevelopment of the wider area.
Amjad Hussain runs a sports supplements stall at Coventry Market on Queen Victoria Road, and said he was pleased the local authority planned to invest £1.25m in revamping the building as part of the City Centre South project.
Like many other traders, his rent has been reduced by the council to reflect the disruption, but he said sales had already dropped by “more than 70%” since work began and called for more support.
The council said it would continue “promoting the market” and “working with traders throughout the redevelopment”.
Hussain said the plans for the indoor market were “really good” but that his future at the site hung in the balance because of the city’s wider redevelopment works, due to be completed by 2034.
“It’s going to be good for us when it’s completed, but we have to survive until then,” he added.
The City Centre South development is expected to bring more than 1,500 new homes to the city, along with 18,000 sq m (21,529 sq yds) of public space, restaurants, shops and other leisure facilities.
Coventry Market sits next to that development.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(471x244:473x246)/CNN-New-Years-Eve-with-Anderson-Cooper-123124-9952e5f00fc1425f87113ba2bfb97b29.jpg "Anderson Cooper Says He Once ‘Hated’ New Year’s Eve While Co-Hosting CNN Broadcast")
