Bosses plan major market shake up
‘Traditional’ stalls are to make way for food-based ‘social hub’
RADICAL plans to transform Accrington’s struggling market hall into a food-orientated ‘social hub’ have been revealed.
Hyndburn council have launched proposals to remove a number of empty ‘traditional stalls’ on the ground floor of the indoor market and replace with up to eight ‘commercial retail units’ serving different styles of food and drinks from local chefs.
As part of the scheme, which will take inspiration from Chester, Preston and Altrincham, stone kiosks and pavilion stalls facing Peel Street will also be removed with the area being cleared to provide extra car parking for shoppers.
Bosses say they will issue ‘appropriate legal notices to terminate leases/licences agreements’ for traders on Peel Street and hope to relocate them elsewhere on the market site.
The Observer first revealed in October how market officials were drawing up an urgent survival plan following the closure of more than half a dozen long-serving stalls and a projected loss of £190,000 for the current financial year.
A new council report shows that occupancy levels in the market have now dropped to around 55pc and officers say there is an ‘overcapacity of stall/units within the indoor market hall’.
They warn that continuing the ‘traditional market model’ across the whole ground floor is ‘no longer economically sustainable’ and that the proposed social hub will ‘hopefully increase footfall levels in the Market Hall, Blackburn Road shops and newly refurbished town centre square.
Earlier this month, Accrington was named as one of 14 ‘ High Streets Task Force’ pilot areas chosen for assistance and guidance from industry experts as part of the £1bn Future High Streets Fund.
Council leader Miles Parkinson said they want to capitalise on government plans to provide extra funding for ‘forgotten’ northern towns.
He told the Observer: “It’s a very important time.
“The government have stated that they want a level playing field and we will be putting forward a positive approach.
“We have to hit the road running. People like to see agreement. It’s not about people falling out.
“If we want to succeed we have to come to an agreement and that’s between the stakeholders and all the different parties which will be involved.
“We have got to sing off the same hymn sheet and if we can do that then hopefully we will bring home the bacon.
“If the government is saying ‘do this, this and this’ then we will work 100pc to try and get that money because we have been left behind over the last few decades.
“It’s important that we don’t stall or hinder if the PM is going to give money to the north.
“We want to be at the table and taking some of that and making sure the borough prospers.”
The council will form a new cross-party political team to discuss the proposals and include ideas and opinions from stakeholders and residents ‘young and old’.
Coun Parkinson added: “Every aspect of the council will be engaged but it’s important that it’s not led by the council.
“It’s important that the major political parties come to an agreement and I’m sure both myself and (Conservative group leader Tony Dobson) will sit down in a constructive way. We both have positive agendas and we want to make sure the MP is in with that as well.
“The council will put forward projects but it’s getting that extra money in, such as the Heritage Lottery Funding.
“Some people say it was a waste of money but actually it’s a start. If we didn’t bid for it then we would get nothing and nothing would change.”
Steve Riley, the council’s environment executive director, said they want to take inspiration from other northern markets like Preston, Altrincham and Chester which
have been ‘successfully’ redeveloped around food and drink.
In a report, he said: “Chester is probably most similar to the council’s vision, with half of their market building still operating traditional market stalls.
“The success of venues like these is based on offering diners different styles of food, typically limited to around six to eight choices from each commercial retail kitchen.
“The businesses are not high street brands or franchises but usually local/ regional chefs wanting to start a business or open up more outlets where they already have a local following.
“Some venues also keep a kitchen vacant to provide ‘one off’/pop up type events.
“Food styles may have some local references but there are a range of options, from wood-fired pizza to quality burgers, fish, Thai/Mexican, traditional pie and mash, vegetarian/vegan alongside coffee/baked goods, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.”
The council will pay £21,000 to project management company Dawnvale Group to produce a ‘concept design/scheme and a realistic project budget’.
Mr Riley added: “Whilst there continues to be ongoing discussion with the market traders, if the project is approved by cabinet there may be a small number of existing tenants who do not wish to be part of the new social hub and therefore may need relocating to other areas within the redesigned Market Hall.
“The council has received positive feedback from a local food/ drink business entrepreneur about the concept of redeveloping part of the indoor market hall into a social hub serving food and drinks.”
Coun Tony Dobson said he backed proposals to reduce the amount of retail space in the town centre.
He said: “We haven’t yet seen in detail the (market hall) proposal they are putting forward but the general principle of reducing the amount of space that we have in
Accrington town centre for retail has got to be the way forward.
“We have as much shopping retail space now as we did in 1955 which was at the height of the shopping boom.
“Although I haven’t seen the proposals in detail, if there is some reshaping that can be done in consultation with our traders and we can find a positive way forward with it then I’m sure all political parties will welcome it.”