IF one market stallholder has paid £250,000 in rent over 15 years (Echo, June 12) then 40 stallholders will have paid somewhere in the region of £10m to Darlington Borough Council. No wonder the Labour cabinet describe the indoor market as the town’s “jewel in the crown” for its valuable contribution.

The market and town square businesses provide employment for more than 500 people, if you include suppliers. To retain 400 Mowden Hall workers in the town (how many actually live here?) the cabinet was happy to spend/borrow £5m on 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 only allocate £500,000 for roof and maintenance compared to the recent £675,000 spent on the steps at the town hall.

Last week, as their landlord, the cabinet suggested traders should adapt to changes.

These traders have already absorbed removal of Market Square parking and bus stops, the profusion of yellow lines and closure of the toilets. Surely the loss of 600 parking spaces on Feethams and Beaumont Street pending the £8m multi-storey car park must warrant a rent reduction?

Suggestions by the council leader that tradesmen should amend their 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 will further affect town centre trade.

Money spent on sandcastles may not be enough to save the jobs of people who work in and around the covered market.

Jean Jones, Darlington