Parties interested in managing Hartlepool’s weekly outdoor market are being encouraged to come forward.
The market takes place every Thursday in the West Side Car Park adjacent to Middleton Grange Shopping Centre. Between ten and 13 traders currently attend each week, paying £27 for a pitch.
Hartlepool Borough Council is looking for a private operator and is inviting tenders to come in and run the market. It says that with the right drive and promotion it believes the number of pitches could be increased to around 50.
The successful bidder will be granted a lease allowing occupation of the car park on Thursdays between the hours of 5.30am and 4pm for 50 weeks a year (excluding two weeks at Christmas).
The lease term is to be five years, and the Council is inviting offers over £10,000 per year.
Councillor Gary Allen, Chair of the Council’s Adult and Community Based Services Committee, said: “We believe that the market has significant development potential, so this is a great opportunity for a private operator to come in and take it over.”
The closing date for tenders to be received is 12pm on Friday 10th October.
Interested parties can download more information and a tender form.
Bids should be submitted in writing in an envelope marked “MGSC Market Tender” and posted to Strategic Asset Management, Hartlepool Borough Council, Civic Centre, Victoria Road, Hartlepool TS24 8AY.
For general enquiries, email andrea.horsley@hartlepool.gov.uk or call (01429) 284053.