Transforming Tommyfield

New plans to improve market

London has its Petticoat Lane market, Skipton has street stalls and now Oldham is looking at the best of the rest to improve its own offering.

Officers are visiting popular local markets, studying what works best in Oldham and talking to traders to see how Tommyfield outdoor market can be transformed.

Plans to move the stalls on to town centre streets last year were halted after retailers objected and the council’s ruling party changed from Labour to Liberal Democrat.

Cabinet member Mark Alcock said: “We have not discounted the idea of stalls on the streets but we are looking at all options to make Oldham better.

“Markets have changed and are changing.

“The first people we will be speaking to when we have finished our report will be the market traders already here who are very important — the cornerstone of our market.

“In the meantime, we are looking at how other people run their markets.

“Skipton’s street market works very well, London has different markets and one thing that works very well here is when we have the continental market.

“We are also looking at the farmers’ market in Uppermill.

“This is a credit crunch. We have got to try and help Oldham businesses — that means a greener way of shopping by eating local produce.”

The report is still being compiled but is expected to be considered by Cabinet later this year.