By William Turtle-Clark

Ledbury Town Council has passed a motion to reduce the cost of hiring St Katherine's Square for small traders.

The change has been brought in with immediate effect, with the cost of renting a pitch in the square being reduced to £10 per day. This is a reduction of up to 96% from the previous commercial day rate of hiring the whole square at £260 per day.

The motion was proposed by the town council's Vice-Chair, Joe Hamblin, who told HHR's William Turtle-Clark that it "wasn't viable" for local businesses to trade on the square at the "previous commercial price of £260 a day."

He said that small traders were "the backbone of the local economy" who "often operate on razor-thin margins" and that businesses should be able to hire a space if they feel it to be appropriate rather than being restricted by high prices.

When asked if there was any concern about Ledbury Town Council losing out financially, Cllr Hamblin said that "we've assumed over the next financial year that we wouldn't be getting any income from the square." "Compared to the hypothetical where we wouldn't be getting any money from it, even a single booking is a bonus."

The Vice-Chair also stated that the council was looking at "bringing in an online booking system for traders" and "re-establishing Ledbury's Chamber of Commerce" to allow "small traders another way to bring their thoughts and concerns to the town council."

He mentioned that he would be speaking to local businesses and small traders to see if they have any other suggestions in the meantime to help ease pressures.