Beating the Crunch at Royton Market

Date published: 20 November 2009


Every Thursday, come rain, wind or shine, Royton market attracts hundreds of clued-up bargain-hunters from all over the borough.

Now, in the lead up to this years ‘credit-crunch Christmas’, the market is at its busiest, offering a cheaper alternative to the superstores and shopping centres.

Unlike Oldham’s Tommyfield market, which has recently been subject to some major rethinking, Royton market is still going strong and continues to attract crowds of shoppers, even in the most unsettled weather. Market officer, Samantha Fahmy said that, by comparison to many other local markets, Royton is "doing really well" and "is always full".

One stall-holder, known affectionately as ‘Bacon Barney’, described Royton’s as "the crown jewel of Oldham markets". He also went on to say that business was "still thriving, despite the crisis".

Indeed, regardless of the assurances of politicians in London, the credit crunch remains a worry and a burden for many Oldhamers as we near Christmas.

Rising fuel prices and increasing gas and electricity bills, on top of the annual Christmas shopping, mean that many could face a difficult festive season.

It seems that, with more and more people budgeting their weekly shopping, Oldham folk are turning their backs on overpriced supermarkets and chain-stores, and are returning to their local markets.

It is true that money-saving alternatives, like a shopping trip to a local market, offer a great way for those feeling the strain to save a few pounds in the run up to the holidays.

One happy Christmas shopper, Dorothy Taylor, 66, said that she had been coming to Royton market every week for over 30 years.

Whilst dismissing the impersonal nature of supermarkets, Mrs Taylor said that she loved the "friendly faces and cheap prices" that the market has to offer.

Although the market itself is providing a helping-hand to many in Royton, shoppers this week were also offered a few more practical tips to help them through ‘the crunch’, courtesy of Oldham Partnership’s Credit Crunch Roadshow.

On Thursday (November 19) the Credit Crunch Roadshow team commandeered one of Royton’s market-stalls. Visitors to the stall were greeted by a number of people dedicated to providing locals with helpful advice on jobs, housing, childcare and benefits.

After a successful week outside Spindles Shopping Centre in Oldham, the team described this resident-focussed spell at Royton precinct as a "great chance to meet different groups of residents, and offer them information on Oldham Council’s services and its partners, that are all here to help".

Informative leaflets and practical advice, courtesy of Oldham Partnership, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Family Information Team, Housing Benefits, and Highway To Opportunities, were all available from the stall.

One of the advisors, Kenny Beer, 26, from the Economy, Place and Skills Department of Oldham Council, said that the most important message to take from the Credit Crunch Roadshow was "not to sit and worry about money problems, get in touch with the council and its partners; we have ways to help".

Mr Beer went on to describe the day at Royton market as very successful, saying that "a lot of people have come for help". In the coming weeks, the Credit Crunch Roadshow will be visiting a number of towns and areas throughout the borough, and will also be offering a roadshow dedicated to local businesses in the New Year.