ONE OF Bolton's oldest family businesses has been left reeling over fears that the council is set to double its Market Hall rents.

Joseph "Pot" Bailey's, is today closing its 144-year-old glass and china shop, which fronts on to Knowsley Street.

Owner Mrs Vivienne Lee says she is being forced to close because Bolton Council is to double rents and service charges from £20,000 a year to a massive £40,000. She says the company is one of five market hall perimeter businesses, including locksmiths Oxendales, targeted for the rent rise. Bolton Council strongly deny the rent rise figures quoted by Mrs Lee and describe them as "inaccurate and exaggerated".

But a council spokesman has revealed that council officers and tenants will be meeting next week to discuss the issues.

Jim Oxendale, who has run the 129-year-old locksmiths for the past 40 years, said: "Reliable information has been leaked to Vivienne which reveals that rents will rise. "If this is the case it would put my company out of business for sure. We know we have to pay an economic rent but when you start talking telephone numbers it's a bit daft."

Devastated Mrs Lee - the sixth generation to run the family-owned Bailey's store - claims her company is also set to be landed a huge £46,000 bill for arrears.

"I am a hurt woman, sad and bitterly let down," she said.

She is currently embroiled in a battle alongside other stall holders to stop rents rising for stalls inside the Market Hall.

Mrs Lee, 52, of New Hall Lane, said: "The lease ran out on Christmas Day. There is no way we can afford to pay the rise.

"The family have been devastated. It's been our worst Christmas ever. All this nonsense about nostalgia in the Millennium - Bolton Council is being very shallow."

Joseph Bailey, which also has two stalls remaining open in the Market Hall, was set up in Bolton in 1855. "There is no loyalty any more," Mrs Lee, chairman of the Market Hall Tenants' Association, added. "We have been perfect leaseholders and have always paid our bills and never done anything wrong.

"We have established ourselves in the town and are known locally by our nickname Pot Bailey.

"To achieve that, you've got to have done something good."

A council spokesman said: "Council officers are in negotiations with several tenants of the Market Hall shops and are trying to resolve the outstanding issues involved.

"The question of rents has not yet been fully discussed but the figures quoted are inaccurate and exaggerated.

"It is anticipated that the tenants and council officers, who enjoy a good working relationship, will be meeting in the next week to resolve these issues. "At present, none of the tenants involved in the discussions are in arrears or owe the council any monies and to say that any demands have been issued is incorrect."

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