‘Fantastic’ market boss to step down
Manager calls for investment after year of success
THE future of Rawtenstall’s flourishing market is once again up in the air after it was confirmed the temporary market manager will not be renewing a 12-month agreement.
The market has gone “from strength to strength” since Jane Boys (pictured above, right, with council leader Alyson Barnes), of the Clog Market, took over the running of the Newchurch Road site.
It comes as the council revealed the outcome of a market bar’s licence appeal.
THE future of Rawtenstall’s flourishing market is once again up in the air after it was confirmed the temporary market managers will not be renewing their 12-month agreement.
The market has gone “from strength to strength” since Jane Boys, of the Clog Market, took over the running of the Newchurch Road site as a pilot scheme, but Rossendale council says her tenure will come to an end in May.
The council has also separately confirmed to the Free Press this week it has rejected The Cabin Nano Bar’s appeal against the non-renewal of its shortterm licence.
Council bosses said they are now looking for a new partner as their “innovative partnership” currently in place with Jane Boys “is due to come to end shortly”.
Ms Boys said it had been a “fantastic” pilot project, but admitted it has been an “exhausting” working as a sole trader.
Council leader Coun Alyson Barnes said: “Over the last year, the market has gone from strength to strength.
“When we went into partnership with Jane, the intention was to transform the market and make it a destination place to shop and socialise in the area.
“Jane has certainly been successful in delivering that. She had a great vision and set a clear direction.
“The amount of positive comments I get about how good the market is these days is amazing. I want to place on record my thanks for everything she has done to make the market a success.
“Jane always said she would do 12 months and I fully respect that decision.
“She will leave the market as a very attractive proposition and I am sure we will get lots of interest from quality providers who can take the market to the next level.”
The tender for a new partner will be published soon, while a full plan will be developed to make sure of “a smooth transition” to new arrangements.
Meanwhile, a council licensing panel has upheld market bosses’ decision not to renew a short-term permit for The Cabin Nano Bar. A change.org petition to save the bar, which opened last July but has not been open since Christmas, received more than 1,300 signatures.
A council spokesperson said: “The Council panel has reviewed the decision by the Clog Market not to renew the weekly/ monthly permit for cabins 60 and 61 at Rawtenstall Market.
“Under the conditions of the permit there was no guarantee of security of tenure.
“After consideration the panel believes that there were sufficient grounds not to renew the licence. We would however, consider a new licence application under strict conditions for a possible stall at either Bacup or Haslingden markets, but this would require a new alcohol licence application, suitable nominated person and professional management of the stall.”
Trader Kay Barcroft said: “When Jane took on the management of the market, she did say it would only be for one year. She has done an amazing job and works really hard to improve and promote the market.
“As far as the Nano Bar goes, it would be very sad and a loss if it wasn’t allowed to continue.”