MARKET traders are furious about having to pay two lots of rates on their stalls.

The price hike comes after the government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA) this month introduced a new ratings system for markets.

Under the previous system, Leigh Market Hall's rateable value of £255,000, was a charge shared by stallholders which they paid in their rent according to the size of their stall.

The new system charges an individual value for each stall as well as a value on the offices, common areas and other aspects of the market hall.

But traders say the Council has been quick off the mark to demand the new rate payment but is still charging rates within the rent charges.

Leigh market trader and butcher John Doherty explained: "Wigan Council seem to have forgotten that rates are included in our rent payments and we have to now pay rates separately. I don't know anybody else in the whole country who pays their rates twice. It's ridiculous.

"Most other councils have managed to sort things out by decreasing the rent charges.

"Whatever happens we're still going to be paying a lot more than we were. The government has done it to get more money out of the job.

The proposals mean that stall holders in Wigan could be facing up to a 39 per cent increase in rents, whereas those in Leigh could be looking at a 37 per cent rise.

Wigan Council’s Head of Economic Regeneration, Susan Gambles, said: “Whilst Wigan Council has no influence over this process. We will be holding information days and offering support and assistance to market traders who need more information about these new proposals and to help them apply for small business rate relief if they are eligible.

"Unfortunately we are obliged to collect the rates on behalf of the VOA and will need to send out the new bills, but we will continue to work with the traders and it is important that at this time we continue to work together in order to minimise the impact for the majority of the traders.

"The consultation period has now ended so we have to issue the first bills. We are currently examining a range of options that will hopefully provide a solution that will be of benefit to both the council and the traders.”

The council is urging traders to check the rateable value assessment sent to them by the VOA for errors. There will be opportunities for stall holders to appeal against the rateable value given to them by the VOA.