VOLUNTEERS and traders at an East Lancashire market have urged locals to "use it or risk losing it" as the cost of living crisis hits local businesses there.
Three businesses at Bacup Market have closed, or significantly reduced their trading hours, in the last three weeks alone.
A combination of rising living costs and reduced footfall have been cited as key reasons for their closure.
Pâtisserie Chanel, Valley Haberdashery and Fabric will no longer be operating from Bacup Market.
Bacup Pie, which operated three days a week at the market, is the latest business to announce that it’s “closing for the time being”.
It will only open for the occasional weekend food event or pop-up day while owner, John Paul Chesworth, seeks alternative work as a chef during the week.
John, 36, said he is “heartbroken” it has come to this but says the “skyrocketing” cost of energy, ingredients and more has “forced” him into the decision.
He said: “We are spending more money than we are making.
"The cost of energy is rising and footfall on the market is not what it used to be.
“People used to come home and that was your weekly wage and you used to be able to treat yourself – but that is gone now.
“The cost of living, produce and ingredients has just skyrocketed.
“For me to produce one pie filling is between 5-7p; a few months ago this was 1-2p.
"This is before pastry and using energy needed to cook them, rent and all the rest.”
John said his wholesale food bill has increased by at least 40 per cent and the cost of energy has increased by “tenfold”.
Sales are 40 to 45 per cent down on previous years and John estimates that they could have been £20,000 in debt by the end of the year if trade continued as it is.
John added he “worked like a dog” last week but after paying staff and other bills he didn’t even leave with a wage packet for himself.
Heartbreakingly, he says this job is his “dream” and set it up in 2019 using money left to him by his late mother.
He said: “This business is my inheritance, my life savings, this is everything to me.
“My life is literally in this bakery and now I am being forced to only open for a limited amount of days and not live out my dream and vision I wanted.”
John is encouraging anyone who can afford it to shop locally where possible.
He said: “People really need to start supporting local.
"When you buy from us you’re supporting a regular person who you can pass on a street, just hoping to pay their bills.
“Not a large corporation who is trying to fund his third holiday of the year.
“I do get that some might not be able to afford it which is why they go to these mass companies.
“Just know that these local guys setting up their small businesses need you more than ever.”
He believes the government should be doing more to help small businesses such as his.
He said: “Not enough is being done to help small businesses as the cost of living soars.
“I think the government need to step in. It is all well and good making promises – but when are they going to act on them? Actions speak louder than words.”
Jayde Holmes, who manages Bacup Market's social media accounts and volunteers at the market every Saturday, said: “We’ve tried to promote the market and ask customers advice and feedback – we are trying… but still we are seeing some of our local market stalls closing.
“If John is making this decision, how long will it be before other traders make the same one?
“A couple of traders have been at the market for over 30 years and that is all they know.
“It is really sad when people who have been here for years are starting to get worried."
Jayde, from Waterfoot, said people need to start supporting the market or risk losing it forever.
She said:“Use it or lose it – this is the point the market and a lot of small businesses are at right now.
“It’s awful to see so many of these businesses closing, especially when you see people trying absolutely everything to generate some income.
“If things continue, I think there will be more business closures at the market and the market might cease to exist in future years if poor trade continues and cost of living keeps rising."
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