Young budding retail entrepreneurs are being offered a free stall at Newtown’s Charter Market in a bid to help boost what’s on offer in the town centre.

With it being difficult for traders to set up shop with high rent and energy costs, Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council is giving young people aged 16 to 30 a chance to set up a stall from 9am to 2pm on Tuesday, April 11.

Hannah Morris, operations officer, said the council hopes the market can bring a bit of community back to the town centre.

“The hope is to encourage young traders to book a permanent market stall for further trading in Newtown to enhance the offering of the current charter market.

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“For them to think about going into the shop with all of the energy prices and leasing, it can be too expensive and perhaps we are losing them.

"I don’t think people realise how cheap it is to set up a stall. This is a way to encourage people to visit the town centre and show what they’re capable to do with an enterprise.

“They’ve all got to start somewhere and we need to build up on this and see if we can get more variety and hopefully encourage more people to shop in the market."

Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council says it prides itself on offering some of the most competitive prices for a market stall in the area. Current fees start from as little as £4.50 a day in the winter or £9 in the summer for a stall with a width of just over three metres (roughly £1.40/£2.80 per metre), plus an extra £10 for an old-style stall provided by the town council if required.

Young people who would like a stall on April 11 will need to get in touch with Hannah by sending her an email to hannah.morris@newtown.org.uk