Questions over future of town’s indoor market
QUESTION marks remain over the future of a town’s indoor market which had been enjoying a bustling revival.
The indoor market in Bridgend was forced to close after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which has been classed as dangerous, was found in the building’s roof in September.
Traders were forced to stop working inside the indoor market immediately, and were left unsure of what their future would hold.
Many have recently found positives in the closure, and found homes in empty shop units with the support of Bridgend County Council.
But the council has been unable to provide a reopening date for the market, leaving a question mark hanging over the indoor market’s future due to cost.
A spokesperson for Bridgend County Council said: “We are pleased to see that many of the traders from the original indoor market have now reopened either at our new ‘Market Hall at the Rhiw’ or at other units around the town centre.
“Feedback from traders has been positive and many have reported an increase in footfall and sales.
“We are now awaiting the final findings of a specialist survey which will determine the cost of repairing or replacing the Market Hall roof, which will allow us to consider the options available to us and their affordability.
“It has already been indicated to us from the initial inspection that the scale of any works will be significant.
“As with all works of this nature, any future decision on the way forward would go through a detailed process which will include engagement with a variety of key stakeholders.
“It’s important to note that the council leases and does not own the building and therefore requires full landlord’s consent to undertake any work.”
Bridgend indoor market shut just months after traders said they wanted to push everything that it had to offer, and it seemed to be enjoying something of a revival as new faces added to the old were helping it gain a growing reputation as somewhere to visit in the town.
When asked how Bridgend was faring without the market, Barry Reid, who runs opticians Speccies which used to be based in the indoor market, said: “The thing I miss was the sense of community in the market which was nice, and being around the other business owners.
“But business-wise, trade footfall is actually better.”
Barry was in the market for 10 weeks with his business before he got the news that it was going to close down, a time when many other traders there said they felt like they had been left “in limbo”, and did not know what was next.
He noted: “It did come as a surprise at the time and I don’t think it was handled well but we are now moving forward. But if the market didn’t open again I don’t think the general public will care. And I think most traders are now settled.
“They certainly wouldn’t be able to get people back in there. But a lot of businesses have moved into shop units and sort of rejuvinated parts of the town in some ways.”
The traders who have relocated at other town centre units include Fone Xcellence, Nips and Tucks, Bakestones, Speccies, The Craft Cwtch, and Peter Wood & Sons Butchers.
There is also a unit in the Rhiw shopping centre called “Market Hall”, where a number of traders have now gathered to work in.
They include Candy Corner, Pen-y-bont Pet Supplies, Sandra’s Jewellers, Tilly’s Rawsome Pet Food, Cookmate, Memorable Moments Vintage Toys, Wheelys, and The Kind Human Club.