Council to run Accrington market after operator talks break down
Hyndburn Council will manage the day-to-day running of the food and drink destination having failed to reach an agreement with its preferred operator.
A report to Hyndburn’s cabinet states that talks with the unnamed preferred party had been going on since May 2024. However, after May 2024 a “lengthy period of negotiations” around the lease and cost of fit-out, the council and the third party parted ways.
“High inflation, increases in the minimum wage and national insurance, steep rises in utility costs, plus other external factors, have contributed to a reduced appetite for risk,” the report states.
The council is now seeking to appoint retail expert Barker Proudlove to develop a potential management structure for operating the new Market Hall offering that will influence opening hours and identify traders.
Krol Corlett is delivering the £10.6m market project. Work is expected to complete in spring.
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All the additional costs imposed by this disastrous Labour government.
By Anonymous
Load of twaddle as we submitted a expression of interest to manage this market. Went throuersgh interview with senior members of the council. We have managed Stockport Market for 8yrs and just won contract for another 7 yrs. During our stewardship Stockport has been 95% occupied way above the national average and it was voted as the UK’s Best Small Indoor Market. It’s not true that no-one else was interested. We were!
By ALLAN HARTWELL, Market Place {Europe} Ltd
What a waste of time and money. Why would people want to come to accrington to a food hub when there is nothing else in town. There are few shops and what there is are charity shops and bookies, it is an absolute disgrace. Accrington use to be a wonderful town before the council ruined it.
By Anonymous