Dudley's Market Place: new plans for pop-up food stalls and CCTV cameras to combat crime

Plans for the revamp of the town centre site, on Market Place, have been submitted to Dudley Council and the authority’s regeneration chief has given her blessing for changes.

If plans are approved eight traders’ benches will be removed to create a fixed seating area with cafe-style glass screens.

A statement from Dudley Council’s architects supporting the application said: “The market needs to attract greater footfall, and it is expected that this will update and refresh the market helping to build local and wider community use.”

More trading tables will be removed to create a flexible space for transient traders who do not require fixed pitches.

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Plans for a permanent cafe on the site were scrapped after council officers concluded the cost of installing a kitchen, toilet and washing area was too high.

Instead the latest proposal creates a space for food vans to park next to the new seating area.

It is also hoped the new space could be used for public performances or community events which would take place under the existing canopy to provide protection from the weather.

Traders also told officers regular instances of anti-social behaviour were an issue which discouraged businesses from trading at the market so the plans include the addition of CCTV to tackle crime.

Pigeon droppings are another problem the new proposal looks to tackle with spikes on horizontal roof beams to deter birds from landing.

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Pressure is on to get the plans approved – £150,000 made available from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in 2023 for the project has to be spent by March 2025.

A report by Dudley’s head of culture, leisure and bereavement services, which was approved by Helen Martin, the council’s director of regeneration and enterprise, said: “The new design of the market, will support businesses and the local economy by creating jobs, deliver economic growth and change the role of our town centre.

“The installation of CCTV will provide safe clean spaces, while delivering services within our communities.”

Following the revamp a new tender process will be launched to find an operator to manage the market.