'We can't afford it': Market traders' fury as council demands full lockdown rent and service charges
Ashton Market say they have been left to 'bleed dry' after the local council demanded they pay full rent for the time they spent closed during lockdown. Most of the businesses at the inside and outside market were forced to shut up shop for several weeks after the government ordered cafés and non-essential retailers to close.Many traders received a £10,000 grant from the government, which has had to be used to pay for electricity bills and staff wages.