'People could lose their livelihoods' - shock as Birmingham traders told of threat to Bullring Indoor Market

Shoppers and traders have expressed concern over plans to ‘demolish’ Birmingham’s historic Bullring Indoor Market.

According to reports, the market owner has told traders operating inside the market that it could close before their leases expired.

Traders received letters informing them of an application to build apartments at the location, reports the BBC. The market is currently run by Birmingham City Council and the application will go before city planners this month (September).

One trader inside the Bullring Indoor Market, who wished to remain anonymous, said their lease at the market runs until 2027, and that they are worried about what will happen to the younger traders at the market.

They said: “They’re not considering the years of service we’ve put in here, or the future of the Birmingham markert. I’ve been here for many years, but I think about the younger people here and what they will do.”

“This building isn’t good. We’ve needed a new building but at the moment our leases run until 2027 - there’s a new market going to be built but that wont be done by the time they want to kick us out of here.

Rashid, who runs the Passion for Fashion stall in St. Martin's Market said the closure of the indoor markets would have a knock-on effect for nearby businesses.

Speaking to BirminghamWorld, he said: “It’s not nice that traders could lose their livelihoods.

“My real concern is the fish and meat market. We want them to stay as they attract a lot of the people to come into town and to the shop here - a lot of the people have benn shopping for fresh fish and meat for last 40/50 years.”

He continued: “If that fish market goes then that will have a knock-on effect for business here, too.” It’s historic - the market has been here for 100s of years and generations of family traders will have passed it on to their children.

“50 years ago my dad was a market trader at the old Bullring and he’s left it to me to be passed onto my children. I’ve been here 30 years.”