A HEALTHY and vibrant Covered Market is always a good barometer of a healthy and vibrant retail environment across the city as a whole.

We cannot afford this to be ailing but it appears increasingly as though this jewel is losing its lustre.

The market traders have long complained about Oxford City Council’s proposals to raise rents – and there is nothing unique there because most businessowners renting their premises always believe they are paying too much. However, now we are told 10 companies who operate 21 of the shop units at the market want out and this has been building over the past six to nine months.

That in itself may not set alarm bells ringing at the council as churn in a market can be positive because it offers new shops to attract repeat shoppers.

But what should is the apparent lack of firms to replace them.

The council has to ask why there is no queue of shopowners banging down the door to get in at the first sniff of an empty unit.

There has to be a reason and, while the council has a duty to maximise its income from its asset, it has to be big enough to realise that and make the necessary adjustments to make this an attractive business opportunity.

We fear we may be at a tipping point with the Covered Market and we cannot afford for it to die.