Ashton market revamp begins
Tameside Council, supported by architect and planner IBI Group, is on site with the £4.5m remodelling of the historic Ashton market square as part of its £76m regeneration of the town centre.
The scheme involves the construction of stalls, contemporary kiosks and the creation of a new civic space.
Work on the market is part of the council’s multi-million pound town centre development masterplan, known as Vision Tameside. Further emerging developments include the Tameside College campus which is being relocated into the town centre, a Joint Service Centre and the Tameside Transport Interchange.
Damien Bourke, assistant executive director at Tameside Council, said: “The transformation of the market square is a key part of our ambitious redevelopment strategy to bring greater economic prosperity to Tameside.”
I cannot find any mention with regard to the progress in the market revamp, bearing in mind that progress so far is approximately six months behind. The first statement in the web site was,”The market revamp will start in early 2015 and be completed by Christmas 2015″. So far, only a third of phase one, the kiosks and paving are completed. The stalls aren’t.
By Norman Renwick
Good point, Norman. But also, who cares?
By Queryer
Whoever responded with “Good point, Norman. But also, who cares?” will soon care when he/she realises that the market won’t be completed in 2016 because of disastrous planning. No one knows how progress can be achieved and when, when the council deny council tax payers of accurate facts, especially when truncated with the new council offices.
By Norman Renwick
I have still not seen any update on the “ashtonmarketrevamp” web site. In talking with several market stall holders, they do not know when they will be able to move to the new stalls, or how much increase in the stall rents it will cost them. The Council must inform the Tameside residents and market customers when it will open in full or which part of the project will open.
By Norman Renwick
Residents are wondering when the Ashton market will be completed and how it will look. Sadly, the council would prefer to explain nothing on the council web site. However in recent years, Tameside Council have completed similar market in Denton (Now closed), Stalybridge (Now closed), Droylsden (Now closed) and Hyde (75% closed). Can we therefore assume that Tameside Council intends that Ashton market will the only one in operation. Further success for the council completing this project in total ignorance of of Tameside residents and council tax payers.
By Norman Renwick