Council gets to work clearing old market

SET to come down . . . stalls from the former Shaw Market

OLDHAM Council is to start removing the redundant market stalls and cabins from the former home of Shaw Market on Westway from Monday.

The work can start after the local authority received all the relevant permissions, legal orders and licences to formally locate stalls on to Market Street on Thursdays.

Removal work is expected to last no longer than two weeks.

Once this stage of the area's transformation is complete work will start on August 8 - weather permitting - to create the extended car park on the former market ground and improve the existing one.

This will take around two weeks and involve planing off the existing surface, resurfacing the whole area, amending the kerbs, marking out the parking spaces and installing new signage.

The existing car park will have to be closed so the improvements can take place but is expected to open during the week commencing August 22.

To keep residents and businesses owners informed the closure will be publicised via notices on site and a local leaflet drop.

Oldham Council leader Jean Stretton said: "I'm sure news that the old market stalls are set to be taken down will be welcomed by residents and traders.

"Since the market moved they had become redundant and had attracted anti-social behaviour. By taking the stalls down we'll hopefully have helped to remove that problem.

"There will be some disruption for a few weeks but we will keep this to a minimum and once finished the works will help improve the area."

Oldham Council proposed to move the market to its new home last year in a bold bid to help it thrive.

Agreed
Following years of declining numbers of stalls it was hoped the new location would attract new customers and stallholders by putting it nearer to the busy shopping area.

Following a trial period and positive feedback from a number of stallholders and businesses on Market Street, the decision to make the move permanent was agreed late last year.

Existing businesses in the area reported increased footfall during the pilot and people also commented about the market having a real community feel to it.

The council has committed to invest up to £120,000 to make the market move permanent.