Trading blows on market move

A WAR of words erupted over the location of struggling Shaw Market last night.

Oldham’s Labour council leader Jim McMahon was quizzed on whether the market is to move after the decision on its location was branded a game of “musical chairs”.

Oldham Council unveiled £125,000 plans last year to relocate the market into the centre of town, closer to Shaw’s supermarkets to drum up more business.

But Lib-Dem opposition leader, Howard Sykes, said the council had changed its mind on where in Market Street it would move to.

Rumours

He added: “There are now rumours that the market will remain on its historic site until some unspecified time next year.

“Will the leader confirm or deny whether it is to move? And if so, where to and when?

“Or will he hold up his hands and admit, as I hope he will, that the market can remain at its current location as per the wishes of local councillors, market traders, high street shops and two of the largest employers in the borough — Littlewoods and JD Williams.”

He demanded that the council use the money earmarked for the move to instead replace the current permanent stalls with pop-up ones, adding: “This will remove the shelter that attracts youths intent on anti-social behaviour and provide more parking on non-market days.”

Councillor McMahon did not confirm where the market’s location would be — but said people wanted it to be convenient and stressed that the council would not spend taxpayers’ money on things that would not increase trade.

He told Councillor Sykes: “If you believe in the market, you have to stop trying to appeal to people who are scared of change.”
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