Oldham extends market to lure back shoppers

OLDHAM Council is to introduce a new on-street market in a bid to woo back more shoppers to the town centre.

The council has granted permission to extend the town’s market through the installation of up to 36 demountable stalls which will be put up on Albion Street and Curzon Street on Fridays and Saturdays.

Oldham’s once-thriving town centre has come under increased competition over the past few years from a growing number of out-of-town retail parks on the fringes of its town centre. The opening of the new £350m The Rock retail scheme in Bury Town centre is likely to present a further challenge.

However, the council is hoping that an extension of its established market will help to drive footfall. 

“Market stalls are an important part of what makes Oldham town centre what it is,” said the council’s deputy leader Cllr Jackie Stanton. “By giving independent traders access to these high quality on-street stalls the Council has been able to add considerably to what Oldham town centre can offer shoppers.”

She said that the council had consulted with existing traders and spent time researching the most practical stall designs.Planning consent has been granted for up to 11  5m x 2.5m stalls and 25 stalls measuring 6m x 3m that could be sub-divided into a series of smaller 3m x 3m stalls.

“I am delighted to say that there has already been considerable interest from regular traders and also those new to Oldham who I look forward to welcoming to the town next week.”