Bridgend Market’s Future Uncertain After 500 Years Amid Raac Issues and Funding Withdrawal

A town’s market, which has existed for 500 years, is at risk of closure due to deteriorating concrete and prohibitive expenses. Concerns have emerged for Bridgend after its indoor market was compelled to shut down last year following the discovery of Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in its roof. A temporary market was established, but Bridgend County Borough Council, which had been subsidising the lease for this interim solution, declared it could no longer afford to continue the payments and would cease its support in March. The council indicated it had “offered to support and relocate the remaining stallholders” and was “discussing potential longer-term options” with the market’s private owners. Steve Bletsoe, an independent councillor and a former mayor of the town, stated that people were “losing their livelihoods.” He added, “There’s been a market in Bridgend for more than 500 years and this can’t be the end.” It remains uncertain whether the indoor market will be able to reopen in the future. In a letter addressed to market traders, the council explained that the total number of traders who had expressed interest in the temporary accommodation “did not materialise,” and “over the course of the last year a number of others have vacated.” “This has resulted in a very large unit for a small number of traders that is having to be heavily subsidised by the council,” the letter stated. It continued, “Due to its ongoing financial position, the council is having to make the very difficult decision to withdraw from the temporary unit and hereby provide you with three months’ notice to terminate your current tenancy.” The last date of the tenancy was specified as 16 March 2025. The council conveyed that the decision was made “with a heavy heart” and apologised for delivering the news before Christmas. “We really appreciate your support of the temporary market hall… [we] felt it important to give you as much notice as possible in order that you can hopefully find suitable alternative premises.” Mr Bletsoe commented that the Labour-run council “know full well the market traders don’t have enough income to run it themselves after they lost their position in the original market.” He further asserted, “We’re a chartered market town with a long history of markets and we fear this could be the end of the market in Bridgend. I cannot see the indoor market ever reopening without significant, immediate investment in an alternative location.” Mr Bletsoe concluded, “People are losing their livelihoods and for the second time in just over a year they’re facing a very uncertain future.” He described it as “a sad day for the town.” Bridgend council stated it had to confront the “unfortunate reality that multi-million pound savings must be made in 2025-26 in order to protect essential services for vulnerable people.” It elaborated, “This means we cannot afford to indefinitely subsidise a temporary market hall where the majority of traders have now found alternative premises.” The council also mentioned that the expiry date of the original lease had already been extended from November until March 2025.