Rochdale 's doomed 768-year-old market should be given a stay of execution to allow traders to come up with their own plan for running it, the borough's Tory chief has said.
Coun Ashley Dearnley says the Conservative group intends to table a motion at the next full council meeting calling for the closure to be revoked - and put on hold for at least six months.
Last week the Labour-run authority called time on the town centre market , saying that low-trader turnout and lack of revenue meant it was no longer viable.
Both the outdoor and indoor markets - located on The Butts - are due to shut down in mid-October.
Traders had previously put together a bid to run the market as a co-operative, but bosses said it was not a sustainable plan.
But Coun Dearnley is calling for stallholders to be given a chance to capitalise on the regenertion of the town centre - including the new Riverside Shopping Centre scheduled to open next Easter.
He said: "I feel at a time like this , when we’ve got a new shopping centre coming on board in the spring, we should give these people an opportunity to try and manage the market themselves as there’s a great opportunity going forward.
"I think it’s horrendous that after 768 years trading they close it on a decision not even taken democratically by the council, so I hope consideration will be given to it."
Coun Dearnley says the Conservative group will move for the closure to be put on hold at the next full council meeting 'unless an agreement is reached beforehand'.
He says there are 'various options' to be explored in relation to the future of the market before councillors should consider closing it for good.
The proposal was given a cautious welcome by Coun Andy Kelly, leader of Rochdale's Liberal Democrat group - but he felt it did not go far enough.
“It doesn’t take away the fact there’s no electricity, hot water or toilet facilities. There still have to be other issues addressed with the market as far as I’m concerned," he said.
"I would be happy to support (the motion) if in those six months we are looking to move to a new, more permanent site and not some temporary stay of execution."
Coun John Blundell, cabinet member for regeneration, said the council was ‘open to all ideas’ - but pointed out traders were given a chance to come up with a business plan earlier in the year which was not deemed viable.
And he questioned why Coun Dearnley was tabling a motion given he is a director of Rochdale Development Agency - which has run the market in conjunction with the council since last September.
“If he is so concerned why not raise it with the chief executive of RDA, why is he showboating?” said Coun Blundell.
The next full meeting of Rochdale council takes place on Wednesday, October 16 at 6pm.
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