£7.3m to be spent on revival of town jewels
DONCASTER COUNCIL have secured £7.3m to bring life back into the markets which have been losing footfall.
Part of the council’s plans to rejuvenate the markets include renovating two grade II listed buildings, the Corn Exchange and Wool Market, which council officers have said will be the “jewels of the town”.
Designs for the £3m Wool Market were revealed recently with artists’ impressions of the transformation which is set to open in spring 2019.
Drew Oxley, head of council trade and services, said: “There’s been a definite need to improve the markets. It needs an injection, it needs a bit of life, some vibrancy.
“It’s a good market, one of the best in England, but we have got aspirations for it to be the best in the North of England.”
The markets have been in decline for years with the birth of online shopping and the growth of supermarkets.
On the stalls, people were concerned about the decline in footfall and did not seem as hopeful for the future as the council.
One market trader said: “It’s definitely on a decline. There’s no doubt about that, you just have to look around the stalls. We’ve been here 27 years and seen it go down from a thriving market to a small market. Internet is mainly to blame in my opinion. The only way I could see it being improved is if they bring a bus down here. There’s not a problem with the cost of rents, any of that. It’s simply footfall, we don’t get anyone down here. And it’s so far away for most people.”
Councillors are adamant the new plans will give it the boost it needs. They also say no decision has been made on whether the market will be sold or leased. Mr Oxley said: “This is about safeguarding the future of Doncaster’s markets for the people.”