Fears that Hereford’s historic Buttermarket may be “ignored” by its owners Herefordshire Council have prompted its 20 tenants to form an Independent Retailers Association to secure the building’s future.
The locally-owned Buttermarket businesses have called on the council to work with them to restore the building, with its many Edwardian features, back to its former glory.
The chairman of the association is Len Tawn, whose family firm has been trading there for over 50 years.
He said: “The association represents locally-owned businesses that have collectively been trading in the Buttermarket for a total of 512 years, but over the last decade they have been increasingly ignored by the council’s management style.
“With the Edgar Street Grid development imminent it’s up to us local businesses to make sure that this part of Hereford retains its character and the Buttermarket is very much part of that charm.
“Our 20 small businesses have a collective annual turnover in excess of £2million – and are just the kind the council should be supporting.
“Everyone knows that locally-owned businesses retain more of their profits within the county, rather than being siphoned off to pay the dividends of absent shareholders.
“We call on the council to work in partnership with us to create a Buttermarket for the 21st Century, full of local independent retailers, providing much needed employment for local people. Currently, we provide 36 full time and 38 part time jobs which provide essential income for 53 Herefordian families.
“We welcome cabinet member Councillor Blackshaw’s statement that he is willing to talk to us and we look forward to working with him,” he said.
