New location for market as part of revamp plan?
8:59am Thursday 9th February 2012 in News
FARNWORTH Market could be moved to another location as part of plans to develop the town centre.
That is one of the ideas being considered by Bolton Council and regeneration firm St Modwen, which bought the neighbouring precinct last year.
The council has £325,000 to spend on revamping the market, which was provided in a section 106 agreement with Tesco as part of the deal for granting planning permission for its new Longcauseway store.
But it is waiting for St Modwen to draw up its plans for the precinct, as it is hoped they can be linked together to improve the whole town centre.
At Monday’s meeting of Farnworth area forum, Councillor Jim Lord revealed the current market could become part of the precinct in the redevelopment.
That means another site would have to be found in the town centre for the market.
He said: “We can’t say where we can spend the £325,000 until we see the final plans from St Modwen.
“They have come up with ideas which we are looking at. They want to encompass the market area and have it as part of their lease and it looks as if that is the path they could go along.
“We still want a market area somewhere and we are looking at that.”
It was announced at the meeting that the council has pledged to spend £15,000 to make more immediate improvements to the area.
Market traders have suggested potential schemes, including extra signs directing people towards the market, repainting canopy columns and lockup unit tops, and fixing potholes and damaged asphalt.
