MOVING Ashton-under-Lyne’s market to a temporary site while a multi-million pound project is carried out is being delayed.
Current stallholders will shift to an area behind the Market Hall while a canopy and kiosks are installed after the town was awarded almost £20 million by the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
However, a date cannot yet be identified for the switch because complications with electricity supplies to those currently in place mean they cannot move.
Paperwork for the meeting of Tameside Council’s strategic planning and capital monitoring panel on Thursday, November 21 revealed the hold up.
Documents state: “Electricity North West are continuing to cause delays with the establishment of the temporary market, which requires utility disconnections to the existing kiosks before they can be relocated.
“The issue relates to the subcontractor responsible for undertaking the jointing and disconnection works who are unwilling to commit to a date despite the order for these works being submitted in May this year.
“We are in regular contact with ENW in order to try and resolve this matter.”
At the moment, all Levelling Up Fund money must be spent by March 2025 but Tameside Council says officers are in ‘ongoing discussions’ with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government over an extension.
Not securing one is sure to raise the eyebrows of the woman in charge of that body, Ashtons MP Angela Rayner – whose constituency office is literally on the doorstep.
However, documents for the meeting also revealed a possible start date for remodelling work at Ashton’s indoor market, which The Correspondent told may see stalls moved in a bid to make it more ‘flexible.’
But more money is needed to complete the job fully.
Initial work will see the installation of a partition, refurbished toilets, two new toilets, and replacement of seating
Yet they add: “Additional design work based on market trader feedback has been completed to create a flexible food and drink destination with creative and cultural uses.
“Shutters will be installed to enable the market to operate into the evening time.
“To deliver on the entirety of the vision for the Market Hall, additional grant funding is required. An enquiry has been submitted for £250,000 to the National Heritage Lottery Fund. A decision is expected in the new year.
“This work will include new seating, removal of long-term vacant units, creation of new spaces for creative and cultural uses that will enable local artists and enterprises to flourish.
“Depending on the outcome of the bid, work could commence in April 2025.”