Belfast’s famous St George’s Market will have its stall fees waived for three months, the city’s council has announced.
The indoor marketplace reopened at the beginning of July after closing at the start of lockdown in March.
Belfast City Council initially rejected traders’ requests for a six-month pardon on their £25 stall fees.
However, councillors have now offered a three-month reprieve instead following a presentation by the St George’s Trader’s Committee at the council’s recent Strategic Policy and Resources Committee meeting.
Before Covid-19, the market’s occupancy rates were 225 stalls on Friday, 189 on Saturday and 186 on Sunday.
There are now 84 stalls currently with new social distancing measures due to coronavirus and footfall levels are currently around 30% of the numbers in previous years, in line with the rest of the city centre, according to Belfast Live.
St George’s Market traders thus wanted stall fees waived to help cope with weakened profits caused by the pandemic, but Belfast council officers said the re-opening of the market has “significant financial implications for the council.”
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After loss of income and additional overheads for more security, staffing and cleaning, Belfast City Council said additional costs are estimated at £346,150.
A three-month fee waiver would result in a total cost to the council of £440,408, an increase of £94,258 against the operating budget of £346,150. A six-month waiver would cost over half a million to the council, the council officers’ report states.
The council has still voted for the stallage freeze for the time being, and it will be reviewed in three months.
A one-way operating system for visitors in the market has been put in place, with limited points of access and new socially distanced seating areas are to be expected in coming weeks.
A re-introduction of live music has also been proposed. Current operating hours are 6am to 3pm on Friday, 9am to 3pm on Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
