Hartlepool councillor responds to calls for local Tall Ships traders to be given a discount

It comes after at the latest meeting of Hartlepool Borough Council Labour’s Councillor Jonathan Brash repeated calls to give organisations based in the town discounted rates for trading.

The four-day free event in July at Hartlepool Marina is expected to draw thousands of visitors from far and wide.

Fees range from £350 for a market stall to £2,800 for a catering unit, with a charity stand costing £150.

Councillor Mike Young, chair of the council’s economic growth and regeneration committee, said 160 companies were asked over whether the pricing structure was fair, and they said it was.

At Thursday’s full council meeting said the process had been as fair as possible and stressed the plans had to be “financially sound” to ensure they do not face a deficit after the event.

He said: “Hartlepool based businesses have been notified in advance of the application process, advised of the requirements, shown a site plan and the prices for an application ahead of the wider market.

“So Hartlepool businesses are being treated with the greatest amount of fairness and before the rest of the marketplace.”

He added some businesses from outside the town also employ Hartlepool people and services, while not every application will be successful.

Cllr Brash had raised concerns some Hartlepool businesses are not happy over the pricing and called for greater discounts for small companies from the town.

Council chiefs previously said Hartlepool organisations will also benefit from priority consideration during the application assessment process.