Eccles Market traders race to find new home as demolition deadline nears

Eccles traders faced with the imminent demolition of their market are calling for urgent help with moving to new premises.

Time is running out for stall holders who must move or close before the market hall closes next month as part of the town’s regeneration.

The council has helped some stall holders find a new home while others still feel left in the dark as the deadline of the demolition looms.

Janet Newton, owner of ‘Kiss n Make up’, feels the regeneration is necessary but is still fearful over the future of her business.

She said: “I have a choice of either moving or closing down. I could lose my business all together.

“They have offered us an alternative, they’re rescinding on some parts of the offer but we’ve got Barbara Keeley involved again so hopefully fingers crossed we’ll get what we want.”

Janet feels particularly disappointed over the lack of cooperation from the council.

She explained: “It’s taken them from November to three weeks ago to come back with an offer for something to help us.

“There’s no trust between us because they keep altering the goal posts of what they will do and what they won’t do.

“I know there’s certain traders who are definitely moving, I’m still 50/50 whether I’m going to move or not.”

Another stall holder, Yvonne Thompson, feels more optimistic about the future of her business and feels the regeneration is something that needs to be done.

She said: “It’s got to be done because, especially Eccles, it needs to be brought into the 21st century, it was built in the 60s so we just need new things.

“My business shouldn’t be affected that much because there’s only me that does what I do in Eccles Market so moving from here to a new location might be better for me because they’ll be more people coming through the alley.”

Yvonne also has had troubles over gaining clarity from the council.

She said: “It’s been a bit hit and miss with them because we were initially told we can have this and we can have that and then just recently we’ve been told no you can’t have this.”

More information about the planned regeneration can be found here.