Market Hall Refurbishment

[Ken Moss]

Originally Posted by gynn

But aren't there enough examples in other towns, such as Bury and Fleetwood, to show that there IS a demand for a properly run market hall?

Yes, I think there is.

I'll fight to the last to keep the Market Hall open in Accrington but with the councillors we have in control offering this kind of help I don't think I'm going to get the chance to be of any use to the traders before May at the earliest.

It's a crying shame and a shining example of the massive egos we're up against.

[Wynonie Harris]

It's the oldest market hall in Lancashire and it's been providing an excellent service to the town and its environs since 1869...until those on the council decided to start meddling. As Gynn says, it's one of the things that differentiates us from surrounding towns, who demolished their market halls in the mania of 60's redevelopment and must be bitterly regreting it now.

Despite the encroachment of superstores and other modern retailing concepts, there is still a place for the market in the 21st century, as Bury has undoubtedly proved. However, the idea of transforming the market hall into some sort of multi-media events centre is a waste of time - it's where people go to buy things, not listen to glorified buskers, fawn over Z-list celebrities and gawp at somebody's crochet work.

[cashman]

As they have sacked the Oldham M.P. fer lying, can Marlene Haworth being a councilor, be sacked if she is discovered to be doing the same?

[BERNADETTE]

Originally Posted by Neil

Here is a wild question to throw in the pot

Does it matter if the Market Hall does close?
If yes, why does it?

I think it would be a great shame if the Market Hall were to close. Not everybody wants to shop in supermarkets all the time myself included. I know my shopping needs are a lot less than others on here but even whilst raising a family I used to get most of my shopping in and around the market area. As we do every year we will be going to Leeds on the 20th christmas shopping and like Bury, Fleetwood etc their market is thriving. If other towns can get it right why not ours???? So YES it does matter if the Market Hall were to close

[Gordon Booth]

Originally Posted by gynn

But aren't there enough examples in other towns, such as Bury and Fleetwood, to show that there IS a demand for a properly run market hall?

We had a run to Bury last week on market day.They have just opened a new shopping complex, The Roc and the Millgate centre is still open.BUT-the market and the indoor market were packed! M&S in the Roc-a large food hall, almost empty, not many walking round the Roc at all.
You may not NEED a market but how boring without one, what's left in the town centre? As gynn said, if Bury can PACK a huge market, why can't Accrington?

[Tealeaf]

I suspect that many of those visiting Bury are from Manchester and it's environs - Bury, is afterall, just a quick tram ride away. And lets face it - there are quite a few people from Hyndburn who take the short drive down there or just hop on the bus. I think the problem with Accy is it's relative size and it's inability to expand and reach a critical mass were it can be seen as a viable shopping destination.

It could possibly sell itself as a niche market but that usually involves the sale of higher priced goods and offhand I can't think of 'owt in which Accy could specialise in. We certainly don't want to go down the road of having a 7 day a week flea market.

What is undoubtably the case is that the Market Hall itself needed to change. I remember several years ago going in there with a colonial mate of mine and he thought he's entered a time warp; his comment was - do you need a ration book to shop in here? It really was a mixture of 1950's hardboard tat and digusting coffee shops (one employee of which may have heard my friends comment because the liquid I was subsequently served with appeared to contain rat poison).

What is also the case is that the restoration has been only a partial success while the management regime is now an absolute disaster. It really is time for a radical rethink on the market hall and the outside market and what they should be doing and how it should be done.

[Benipete]

Well it certainly wouldn't matter to me If It closed but then neither would the Library.Civic Hall,Sports Center and every Fast Food Takeaway shop in Accrington.

On the other hand they are important to other people so I'll keep my gob shut.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by gynn

I would say Yes, it matters.

What are the things about shopping in Accrington that make it different from other towns? The Market hall,............er, I can't think of anything else.

Take away the Market Hall and everyone will be doing their shopping in Asda and Tesco. Just like every other town in England.

Or am I being over nostalgic?

I agree.

It's what makes the town different from anywhere else in the country. Towns and cities with the same old boring generic high street stores.

What Accrington has, is a truly stunning building, still fit for the purpose it was built for, well over a hundred years after it was constructed.

Up until the refurbishment it was packed with busy stalls. I'm not blaming anyone, just commenting, that it seems emptier than it was before, for whatever reason.

The wooly sculptures doesn't compensate for that. Again, just my opinion.

People do shop in there. At the moment you could more or less buy everything you need to sustain a family for a week.

If this remains the case, once the massive new Tesco opens, remains to be seen. Though many of the market traders fear it will be the end of their businesses.

Is it important it remains a Market Hall?

Yes.

It makes Accrington different from other towns, it creates jobs, and it provides a place for people to do their shopping who'd prefer their money not to go into the pockets of the supermarket owners.

In the future, towns will become like the old Victorian mill towns, where the only shop was also owned by the mill owner. Who basically had their workers over a barrel, as they had no choice where to spend their wages, other than paying it back to the already wealthy industrialst's shop till.

The country will be carved up by the big boys. Each town having it's own one stop superstore, and Joe public will once again be over a barrel.

Sadly the numpties who've allowed this to happen, will be long gone.

[cashman]

some may say nostalgia, i say a Market Hall gives a town center character, which may sadly be lost, if the numpties don't change views.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

I was referring to the town itself.

We would like to close our border with Church to keep those wrong 'uns out

[Alan Varrechia]

Originally Posted by garinda

In the future, towns will become like the old Victorian mill towns, where the only shop was also owned by the mill owner. Who basically had their workers over a barrel, as they had no choice where to spend their wages, other than paying it back to the already wealthy industrialst's shop till.

The country will be carved up by the big boys. Each town having it's own one stop superstore, and Joe public will once again be over a barrel.

Sadly the numpties who've allowed this to happen, will be long gone.

Well said garinda. It sums up capitalism to a tee.

[Tealeaf]

Originally Posted by garinda

In the future, towns will become like the old Victorian mill towns, where the only shop was also owned by the mill owner.

Err....anyone spot the contradiction in Rindy's logic and observation?

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

Err....anyone spot the contradiction in Rindy's logic and observation?

Er...give us a clue, Miss Liza Goddard.

Accrington was never reliant on just one mill owner, or even just one trade, unlike some other places, so that can't be applicable to the logic or observation.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

I remember several years ago going in there with a colonial mate of mine and he thought he's entered a time warp; his comment was - do you need a ration book to shop in here? It really was a mixture of 1950's hardboard tat and digusting coffee shops (one employee of which may have heard my friends comment because the liquid I was subsequently served with appeared to contain rat poison).

For goodness sake don't ever take your little chum dahn to south London's very busy Tooting Indoor Market.

Thriving it may be, as was Accrington's until fairly recently, but it'll make him think Accrington's grand Victorian Market Hall is positively space age in comparisson.

Your dear friend might have a queer turn.

[Barrie Yates]

Originally Posted by Neil

Here is a wild question to throw in the pot

Does it matter if the Market Hall does close?
If yes, why does it?

May we enquire as to where you stand on this?