TRADERS whose stalls are being earmarked to move in a £250,000 reworking of Ashton-under-Lyne’s market hall have questioned the plans.
Tameside Council has announced fixed units are set to be removed with more space inside being used for other things, notably a food court.
Bosses believe it will help push a ‘transformative agenda’ and that it is a ‘good news story.’
But those who have been told their businesses are likely to be shifted have expressed doubts over whether it will work.
Gary Mottershead has worked at Farmhouse Deli, which has been on the market for more than 100 years, said: “Is it going to be better for the market? I don’t think it will.
“These people that come down and do all these plans, they’ve never shopped in markets, ever.
“They’ve probably gone to Altrincham and seen that it’s working but it’s a posh area. They all want that sort of stuff. Here, it’s a working man’s town – they don’t want bars.
“They’ve opened three new ones outside recently and they’re not busy. What gives them the right to think it’ll be thriving inside?
“I’ve said, ‘I won’t move, I’ll put hot pies and peas on – I’m selling hot food then.’”
Kath Keeley has worked at one of the most familiar stalls – The Egg Nest – for 25 years and doubts the food hall plan would work.
She told the Correspondent: “All they’ve said is they want to move us and try and find a similar space to what we’ve got.
“Gary’s stall and mine have always worked off each other. We’ve said, ‘We’ll need to be together.’
“There are no stalls big enough to put Gary on, unless they’re going to move other small stalls first.
“Plus, the food hall idea. There are three stalls on the back wall that all leak water when it rains.
“Who’s going to want to set a stall up selling food when there are bins and buckets to catch the rain? I can’t see the practicalities of putting food stalls there.
“I can see where they’re going but people like wandering around and finding a little café there or a food thing here.
“Customers know where we are, they’re always coming here. Moving me can affect trade.”
The latest plans for the building were revealed in an update of Tameside Council’s use of money it has received form the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
And the meeting of the authority’s executive cabinet on Wednesday, August 21, approved the use of £250,000 of the £3,812,000 grant it received to make alterations to its layout, with the intention of making it more ‘flexible.’
That includes attracting more small businesses to use it, as well as student and community groups.
Cllr Jack Naylor, executive member for inclusive growth, business and employment, said: “The interventions outlined are supporting – and will continue to support – the council’s strategic priorities.”
And Ashton Cllr Vimal Choksi believes the scheme will help the traditional building in the future.
He added: “Obviously, I welcome the investment in the market hall.
“It’s very important we futureproof it. We’ve seen UK-wide that many markets are struggling and what we’re doing is future proofing by investing £250,000 in extending the food and drink offer, as well as introducing some cultural offer for our youth.
“All in all, it’s a great news story. We’re not losing any traders and they have been consulted.
“It’s based on what we did many months ago with traders and councillors. We’re just addressing the vacant spaces we have.”
Leader of Tameside Council, Cllr Gerald Cooney, backed up the view the rejig is needed.
He said: “It’s a good news story. No-one is losing their stall and we’re looking at the food offering.
“Go to the Trafford Centre and the Arndale Centre, that’s important because what you’ve got is a lot of young people going from the college to Greggs or McDonald’s and we think we’ve got an extra offer there.
“We think it’ll enhance and bring a different age profile into the indoor market, with more spend as well.
“There’ s going to be a lot of disruption, but we think that after that, this will enhance the indoor market and the offer that’s in there.”
The Hall’s opening hours are 9am to 5pm so the clock in the above picture is obviously telling the wrong time (it still is).
If Tameside council can’t even get a town-centre clock to work, what else can’t they do properly?
Also, the Leader of Tameside Council says “We think it’ll enhance and bring a different age profile into the indoor market”. That’s the generation which uses the internet.
Check out the council’s market web page – https://www.tameside.gov.uk/ashton/market – and there’s no link to the market’s Facebook page. Check out the Ashton Market Hall Layout page – https://www.tameside.gov.uk/ashton/markethall/layout – and the hover feature doesn’t work. Neither are there any links to the traders’ websites or Facebook pages.
Simple things which in the internet age should be done and with which the ‘different age profile’ is familiar and makes use of.
Wasted money people don’t have money to sit in the market eating an drinking. Of which the food be expensive. The older generations will miss going to the market an indoor to buy from the food stalls that’s been there for years 😕. Don’t want to sit in posh eating bars 😢 sad it will kill the indoor an out door market completely.
Why don’t you just leave the inside market alone, we don’t have as many people visiting ashton like you do in Manchester. We don’t need the market hall turning into a food hall, it will effectively destroy the small cafes and eateries in and around ashton town centre. As it is now and where business’s are situated are what people are used to. You think because of the surrounding colleges it will bring all the students in what so if a business is doing well you can charge extortion rent to get the money back your using to get this crazy idea on the go. There’s a cost of living crisis or don’t you know that. Spend your money on improving houses and schools people suffering from drugs and alcohol abuse.
“Cllr Jack Naylor, executive member for inclusive growth, business and employment, said: “The interventions outlined are supporting – and will continue to support – the council’s strategic priorities.””
Those strategic priorities seemingly to turn Ashton into an even more lawless, decrepit and run down town centre, from what was a thriving and proud commercial hub.
What this council and its MPs have systematically done over the past 30 years to reduce this town to its current state is nothing short of a scandal.
Am I correct in thinking creating an indoor cafe culture in Ashton indoor Market will attract younger people. Well yes I suppose it will , I only hope there’s going to be a vast increase in permanent security in there as all that happened at MacDonalds was added trouble as was written about in the press not long ago. I suppose the beggars, etc will have somewhere to sit. Sadly I don’t think it will attract the right sort of clientele, Altrincham is a completely different kettle of fish, with it’s Bistro cafe culture, all Ashton needs are good shops, Primark would have been a good draw, but due to the Greedy labour council, they increased rents so traders move out.. It’s down to Local Tameside council Tameside towns are dead Can’t blame the Tories. We Not on the Cheshire Belt, not are we Trafford centre .
This was always on the cards, as soon as the council got wind of what Altrincham were doing with their market the cogs began to turn in the jobs worth councils heads. Ashton Market has always been a traditional Northern Market serving the working people of the surrounding towns and the stalls in the Market Hall reflect this.
Yes the demographic has changed in the area with the introduction of the Colleges but there are still a lot of people who shop in the market and rely on the products they sell.
Ashton is not Altrincham and you only have to walk round Ashton to see that trendy wine bars and bistros would not be a good fit for the area. Altrincham is surrounded by leafy Cheshire with Bowden and the like on their doorstep and until Curzon Ashton start paying their players half a million a week it will remain a working, workers town.
The one thing that concerns me as an ex trader is that as the existing number of stall get squeezed and yes more will go, the Council will want the same amount of revenue from the building and we all know what that means.
The labour council absolutely ruined the outside market years ago, traders left and never returned because of the time it took to convert it to its present state. It will be the same for the inside market, leave it alone the people don’t want this. But whenever have the council ever listened to the people of Tameside.
Increased rents, footfall reduced when are these idiots going to loose the stranglehold they have in the Borough.
Obviously Shameside Council have not had the courtesy to consult with the market traders ! Just a bunch of brain dead idiots messing with people’s livelihoods
Not true. Read the article,