Traders at Tenby market have written a plea to the Welsh Government for help during the COVID-19 pandemic - expressing concerns that they are unable to claim any form of compensation whilst lockdown continues.

With traders’ business rates included in the rent they pay to the county council, stallholders have stated that they are unable to apply for government funding for the self-employed because they do not have a business rates reference number.

Pembrokeshire County Council have stated that they have contacted the Welsh Government over the concerns expressed by stallholders of the authority’s owned indoor markets.

Four local produce markets held in Tenby, Fishguard, Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest have adopted new measures as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in order to continue to sell a restricted number of food items to its regular customers and other shoppers - under strict social distancing and health guidelines.

However, stallholder numbers have been reduced to three or four producers per market - with those only classed as essential businesses currently being able to trade.

In the correspondence to the Welsh Government traders of the market hall in Tenby stated: “We are small, self-employed businesses who desperately need this help in order to survive after this global pandemic.

“We pay rent to Pembrokeshire County Council and our business rates are included in our rent. This is clearly stated in our contracts - we DO and always have paid business rates.

“As our rates are included in our rent, we do not have a business rates reference number, and therefore we are unable to apply for the grants set up by the government to help and support self-employed businesses.

“We are small, self-employed businesses who desperately need this help in order to survive after this global pandemic.

“The Welsh government Resilience Grant promised to fill this gap, however, they insist you must be VAT-registered and employ at least one full-time employee. Again, this leaves us small businesses with no help or support during these scary, uncertain times.

“The government states that we can get 80 per cent of profit back from HMRC in June. However, 80 per cent of a small profit is not going to get us through the next year.

“We rely on the summer season to see us through the year; this is when we make the most profit, when Tenby is busy with tourists.

“Having just missed Easter due to the national lockdown put in place by the government, we have missed our biggest week of trade this year. Why are we not able to apply for grants to see us through to next year, like other businesses across the country?

“We can’t help but feel like we are being discriminated against; why do we not deserve the support that other businesses are receiving? As small, self-employed businesses we feel uncared for, overlooked and completely let down.

“These are scary times for everyone and especially for us small businesses who don’t know what the future holds. Please can you help us shed light on our situation as we feel we have no chance. We’re desperate to continue our businesses that we have put everything into.”

The concerns raised by indoor traders at Tenby’s market hall have now been taken up by the authority, with a spokesperson stating: "The council appreciates the genuine concerns of the market traders and we have conveyed those concerns to the Welsh Government."

Tenby Market is currently open from Wednesday to Saturday, from 9 am to 4 pm, with producers currently attending - Little Pantry (pantry staples including dried goods and fresh vegetables); Brauns Butchers; Jam Pot (conserves); the Pet Shop.

Cabinet Member for Economy, Leisure, Culture and Tourism Clr. Paul Miller, stated earlier this month that it was important to support the local producers in the fragile economic climate.

“Traders are taking all the necessary precautions to ensure their customers can collect their orders safely, and also to protect themselves,” he said.

“Each stall has a restriction marker in front of their stall and we ask all customers to please respect this. If payment does have to be made at the market, contactless payment is encouraged.”