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Rochdale market to close after 768 years | Rochdale market to close after 768 years |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A market which has been running for 768 years is to close because it is "no longer financially viable". | A market which has been running for 768 years is to close because it is "no longer financially viable". |
The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports Rochdale's outdoor market and indoor food hall is to cease trading on 14 October. | The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports Rochdale's outdoor market and indoor food hall is to cease trading on 14 October. |
Rochdale Council, which has been running it for a year, said it has been losing up to £4,000 a month and on four days no stallholders have turned up. | |
Traders have complained the new outdoor market is "not fit for purpose". | Traders have complained the new outdoor market is "not fit for purpose". |
The market, which obtained a charter in 1251, has been run by the council since September last year. | The market, which obtained a charter in 1251, has been run by the council since September last year. |
The current market is located on the Butts and the Rochdale Market Foodhall in the former Santander building. | The current market is located on the Butts and the Rochdale Market Foodhall in the former Santander building. |
According to the authority, on four occasions over the past year - including two Saturdays - no traders have showed up and the indoor market has also struggled, too, with just two traders and a cafe. | According to the authority, on four occasions over the past year - including two Saturdays - no traders have showed up and the indoor market has also struggled, too, with just two traders and a cafe. |
However, traders have complained the new outdoor market was "not fit for purpose", lacking protection from the elements and basic facilities such as heating and lighting. | However, traders have complained the new outdoor market was "not fit for purpose", lacking protection from the elements and basic facilities such as heating and lighting. |
Debbie McGinty, who owns Montagues Cafe, said she was in "total shock" about the decision. | Debbie McGinty, who owns Montagues Cafe, said she was in "total shock" about the decision. |
"We've worked so hard to get this cafe up and running," she said. | "We've worked so hard to get this cafe up and running," she said. |
"As a business to be told you've got to get out in 28 days, there's no way it's going to happen." | "As a business to be told you've got to get out in 28 days, there's no way it's going to happen." |
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Council leader Allen Brett said efforts to maintain the market, including rent-free periods to traders have not worked and a proposal for stallholders to run it were said to be "not viable". | Council leader Allen Brett said efforts to maintain the market, including rent-free periods to traders have not worked and a proposal for stallholders to run it were said to be "not viable". |
Mr Brett said the market was "only closing in its current form... we will still have the artisan market" which is staged one Saturday a month and said other special events would continue. | Mr Brett said the market was "only closing in its current form... we will still have the artisan market" which is staged one Saturday a month and said other special events would continue. |
"We have still got the market charter," adding that it was "not fair on tax payers" to continue subsidising it. | "We have still got the market charter," adding that it was "not fair on tax payers" to continue subsidising it. |
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