Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Nick Statham

Future of centuries-old Greater Manchester market in doubt again - but it may not be too late to save it

The future of Rochdale’s 772-year-old market has again been thrown into doubt - but it may not be too late to save it. The curtain nearly came down on centuries of history four years ago when the council announced it could no longer afford to subsidise stallholders.

Traders ultimately stepped in to run the market themselves, despite bosses initially rejecting their proposal as ‘not viable’. However, the ‘Riverside Market’ - which is supposed to run at The Butts three days a week- was only held sporadically towards the end of last year and now appears to have completely ground to a halt.

It is understood the existing arrangements for running the market have broken down. Its plight was raised by Coun Shahid Mohammed at a council recent scrutiny committee.

READ MORE: People in Rochdale facing 5pc council tax rise - but the town hall could pay 2pc of it for them

Coun Mohammed said several traders had voiced serious concerns over the future of the market at the latest Milkstone and Deeplish area forum meeting. And he questioned what the current plans for it were, adding that there was a consortium of traders that were keen to take it on.

“Are we going to leave them to do it, or is it now finished in Rochdale?” he said. “If it is, it’s such a shame. I hope you have some good news for me.”

Levi Rickell, senior project manager at Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), admitted the council now had ‘a decision to make’ on the future of the market.

Coun Shahid Mohammed. (Rochdale council.)

“The artisan market continues on a monthly basis and that is successful,” he said. “But can Rochdale sustain a more traditional market on most days of the week? It doesn’t seem like it can. So it’s something we would consider as part of a wider events strategy.”

However, Mr Rickell said he was willing to discuss proposals from the traders’ consortium. It is understood Coun Mohammed has since formally requested a meeting with RDA and traders' representatives.

Coun John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, has confirmed that markets will form part of a new events strategy.

Coun Blundell, also an RDA committee member, said: “We are developing an events strategy to coincide with the completion of the town hall that will include culture and specialist markets. We are also always open to discussions with anyone interested in running a market in Rochdale.”

More information on markets in Rochdale can be found on the council website, here.

Read more of today's top stories here

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.