Market prices IF one Covered Market market stallholder has paid £250,000 in rent over the 15 years (D&S Times, June 19), then the 40 stallholders will have paid in the region of £10m to Darlington council. No wonder the Labour Cabinet describes the indoor market as the “jewel in the crown” making a valued contribution.

It is an asset to the town, the market and town square businesses, and provides 500 to 1,000 people with employment, if you include suppliers.

To retain 400 Mowden Hall workers in town (how many live in Darlington?), the Cabinet was happy to spend/borrow £5m for new office accommodation and canteen.

So why has the council allowed the market buildings to fall into disrepair over the past 36 years? It shows utter contempt to now allocate only £500,000 for roof and maintenance compared to the recent £675,000 spent on new steps at the Town Hall.

As their landlord, the Cabinet suggested traders should adapt to changes. These traders have already absorbed removal of Market Square parking and bus stops, profusion of yellow lines and closure of toilets.

And the two year removal of 600 parking spaces (which equates to 4,000 daily shoppers) on Feethams and Beaumont Street pending the £8m multi-storey car park must warrant a rent reduction and a rethink on Market Square parking.

Suggestions by the council Leader that tradesmen should amend opening hours shows a complete lack of understanding. While Cabinet members do have to attend onerous two hour meetings to earn their £20,000 allowances, perhaps they should join the traders for a 12-hour shift and reflect on how their recent decision to open three new supermarkets (West Park, Faverdale and Albert Road) will further affect town centre trade.

Money spent on sandcastles in the town centre may not be enough to save the employment of all those who work in and around the Covered Market.

Jean Jones, Darlington.