A Tenby Market trader who has been campaigning to seek financial support from authorities since being forced to close over lockdown has stated that the ‘stress and fear’ of losing his business has caused him such anxiety it has started to affect his mental health, as he has been left ‘constantly sick’ with worry about what the future holds.

Traders at Tenby market campaigning to get financial support whilst lockdown continues, have written once again to Welsh Government ministers and Pembrokeshire County Council enquiring as to why they continue to be overlooked for any grant scheme funding over 10 weeks since being forced to close.

Whilst some stallholders at the Market Hall on High Street have been able to open since the start of lockdown, other business owners on the site have not been able to trade since the Government ordered many traders to close during the pandemic.

Traders at Tenby Market which has been in existence in the heart of the town since 1290 when the first charter was granted, have expressed fear that they maybe forced to close their businesses forever if financial support is not forthcoming.

With traders’ business rates included in the rent they pay to PCC, one stallholder Paul Deverson who runs a photography and picture framing business from the market stated that he and others are unable to apply for government funding for the ‘self-employed’ because they do not have a business rates reference number.

Now in a heartfelt open letter to the Welsh Minister for Economy Ken Skates, along with AMs, MPs, local county councillors and PCC’s leader, Mr. Deverson on behalf of traders has asked why they continue to receive no financial help from the Welsh Government or PCC.

“It has now been over ten weeks since we were forced to close our businesses due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic - we are still yet to receive any financial help from the Welsh Government or Pembrokeshire County Council,” he states in the correspondence.

“This market is the heart of the town - it is extremely important to our community and each and every stall and shop within it deserves the support that every other business is receiving.

“Not only are we vital to the local economy but we are important and valuable businesses in the town. Please stop discriminating against us before it is too late and we have to close our doors, and the heart of Tenby, forever!

“We do pay business rates through our rent; there is absolutely no question about this. We also pay our utility bills, taxes and all other additional costs. It is very clear that our business rates are included in our rent, so why are we still yet to receive any support? It has been ten weeks since we closed and we are still being discriminated against.

“There are grants available to business rate payers (which we very clearly are). Other businesses are able to benefit from these grants because they have an NDR. We do not have an NDR but we pay our business rates, exactly as these other businesses do, however our rates are just collected through our rent by PCC. There is clear discretion on this in the Welsh Government guidelines.

“PCC has said that this does not apply to us, so we are seeking clarification of this from the Welsh Government.

“To date, PCC have chosen not to give us a rent deferral and not a rent break. Neighbouring local authorities have given their tenants a rent break to help and support them during these unprecedented times. PCC say that they are waiting to see what funding we may receive first - but we can’t get an answer as to why? Personally, I do not see what this has to do with anything. If we do manage to receive a grant from the Welsh Government, we should certainly not be handing this money straight over to PCC.

“This money would be to compensate for our loss of income and help us through the coming months, making up for the money we have lost during the tourist season that we rely on for the majority of our income.”

Mr. Deverson went onto to say that just like many others, he has put thousands of pounds into his trade - on equipment, endless hours of hard work and products, and that he fears he will lose his business through lack of support from both PCC and the Welsh Government.

“The stress and fear of losing my business - something that I have poured my entire life and savings into - is starting to affect my mental health.

“I don’t sleep at night; I suffer with anxiety which causes sharp chest pains and I am constantly sick with worry about what the future holds,” he continued.

“This is no way to live and I, as a small business who contributes to the local area, should not be faced with this stress.

“I hold both the Welsh Government and PCC responsible for this stress - their total lack of support is contributing to the failure of my business.

“All I’m asking for is a level playing field like all other businesses on the very same high street I work on have had.

“I am a small local business who has worked extremely hard and I deserve, just as much as any other business, financial support during these scary and uncertain times,” added Mr. Deverson.