News: Volatility in the markets: Rotherham Council considers making changes to £46.844m revamp
It was only meant to be a temporary move but the new Market Hall could become the permanent home of Rotherham's indoor market as the council looks again for its most appropriate location as work progresses on a £46.844m regeneration scheme.
In the summer, traders from the old indoor market moved into the new Market Hall and expected to trade there temporarily until the work on the indoor market is complete (previously scheduled for Autumn 2027). The current plan was for these traders to move back into their revamped home, allowing street traders to make use of the new Market Hall.
Now discussions have been held with traders on those next steps as work begins on the vacated market building that was originally opened in 1971.
The issue was raised at a recent full council meeting. Cllr. John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "Traders moved in to the new Market Hall in July, the new library is set to open early in the new year, and you will have seen that hoardings have gone up around the site for the next and final phase of the work on the old indoor market building.
"This project and this scheme has taken some considerable time, and has involved some considerable disruption for traders, but we are now seeing the physical changes and transformation with the building and that part of the town centre.
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"There has been recent engagement with traders in light of further information that has come to the council as we work with our contractors [Henry Boot} on the vacant building.
"We are now considering the best options for the location of the permanent indoor market across the two spaces that the project is now creating - the current market hall and the changes to the former indoor market.
"We will continue to listen to traders, and we will continue to engage with them."
Cllr Williams added that he would be regretful if traders felt they were being given an ultimatum about future options. He said: "If a decision was made to keep the current traders in the current market hall there would be additional further improvements to that space. Particularly in upgrading the heating and the insulation and ventilation to make sure that the conditions are better during the winter and summer months.
"I can reassure traders that work is already underway to improve the access with additional entrances routes and improved pedestrian access routes to make it easier to get into the market. When the library comes open in the new year, that will also provide an additional new route into the building making it easier for visitors and shoppers to get into the market."
Cllr. WIlliams also confirmed that, as well as the rent free period, charges for communal facilities were also being waived.
Rothbiz reported recently that support for stall holders in the new market hall had been extended after the council admitted that traders and visitors had faced "temporary challenges."
As well as rising costs, this wouldn't be the first change made during the project. Rothbiz reported earlier this year that proposal to decant indoor market traders into the new market hall to provide a temporary market as work continued around them was an idea that was introduced to address trader's concerns.
Rotherham Markets website
Images: RMBC / Hoard-it Ltd
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In the summer, traders from the old indoor market moved into the new Market Hall and expected to trade there temporarily until the work on the indoor market is complete (previously scheduled for Autumn 2027). The current plan was for these traders to move back into their revamped home, allowing street traders to make use of the new Market Hall.
Now discussions have been held with traders on those next steps as work begins on the vacated market building that was originally opened in 1971.
The issue was raised at a recent full council meeting. Cllr. John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "Traders moved in to the new Market Hall in July, the new library is set to open early in the new year, and you will have seen that hoardings have gone up around the site for the next and final phase of the work on the old indoor market building.
"This project and this scheme has taken some considerable time, and has involved some considerable disruption for traders, but we are now seeing the physical changes and transformation with the building and that part of the town centre.
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"There has been recent engagement with traders in light of further information that has come to the council as we work with our contractors [Henry Boot} on the vacant building.
"We are now considering the best options for the location of the permanent indoor market across the two spaces that the project is now creating - the current market hall and the changes to the former indoor market.
"We will continue to listen to traders, and we will continue to engage with them."
"I can reassure traders that work is already underway to improve the access with additional entrances routes and improved pedestrian access routes to make it easier to get into the market. When the library comes open in the new year, that will also provide an additional new route into the building making it easier for visitors and shoppers to get into the market."
Cllr. WIlliams also confirmed that, as well as the rent free period, charges for communal facilities were also being waived.
Rothbiz reported recently that support for stall holders in the new market hall had been extended after the council admitted that traders and visitors had faced "temporary challenges."
As well as rising costs, this wouldn't be the first change made during the project. Rothbiz reported earlier this year that proposal to decant indoor market traders into the new market hall to provide a temporary market as work continued around them was an idea that was introduced to address trader's concerns.
Rotherham Markets website
Images: RMBC / Hoard-it Ltd
