Increased fees at Sheffield Moor Market are a “kick in teeth” for traders.
Service charges will increase by 26.6 per cent in 2024/25, much to the disappointment of traders, for the first time since 2013.
The Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee members made the decision to raise the charges on Monday.
Craig Goodridge, the manager of Independent Travel Experts, said: “I would say it is disappointing, I am a new trader and I have been here for eight months but it is what it is.
“Things are going up everywhere so I understand things have to go up, then I am nervous it’s going to go up year on year.
“I am going to have to be more creative, do more marketing and find ways of getting more customers in to make up that difference because the costs are rising very fast.”
The charge review is hard hitting news for numerous small businesses in the market, especially in the food sector.
Ganny Alli, the manager of Jollof Corner, believes that the fee increase is going to affect how much food she sells and how many customers return to her stall.
Several market traders believe that the City Council has done everything they can and has provided a lot for them, especially over the Covid period.
Thomas Bullivant, the manager of Smokey Sam’s said: “I think the market has been really good to us over the years and especially over Covid, they gave us grants so it is really good of the Sheffield City Council.
“But it is a bit of a kick in the teeth having the service charges go up but they are losing money at the same time.
“Fortunately I have a business here which is very unique but obviously other people in the market might be struggling a bit more than me but I can’t speak bad about the city council, they have done really well to support us and our business”.
Moor Market traders and owners inevitably fear that the increase of costs would affect their businesses in the long term.