Market pitch goes before planners

THE streets of Oldham town centre could soon be bustling with stalls and shoppers after plans to revitalise ailing Tommyfield Market were submitted.

Council bosses are applying for planning permission to extend the car park area in Albion Street and use the land for temporary outdoor stalls.

Land on Curzon Street also forms part of the ambitious proposals.

If the application is successful, the new-look market could be fully operational by Christmas.

The area behind the current market hall will be repackaged as a specialised shopping area with the potential for farmer’s markets, a flea market, specialist Asian and antique stalls. And plans to replace the tired-looking wooden stalls with new gazebo-style huts, which can be taken down at the end of each trading day, will bring an end to the eyesore empty stalls which currently blight the market area.

Shoppers and stallholders can also look forward to extra parking space behind the market hall, as empty stone stalls on the outskirts of the outdoor market are demolished to create some extra space.