Shaw Woolies: a great indoor market?

SHUT up shop . . . Staff at Shaw’s Woolworths store close for the final time last month — could it now become an indoor market?

OLDHAM Council is being urged to turn Shaw’s empty Woolworths store into an indoor market to boost the town’s economy.

Former Parish Councillor Val Pemberton says the Market Street shop is an ideal space for indoor stalls that would also provide a throughway to the dwindling outdoor market and give it a much-needed boost.

All 807 Woolworths stores across the country have now closed after administrators were called in.

The Shaw branch shut up shop for the final time at the beginning of the year.

There have been concerns in Shaw that the store could be turned into a fast food restaurant or takeaway.

Mrs Pemberton said: “Why don’t they use it as an indoor market? It will be something to regenerate Shaw.

“It will bring a lot of benefits to Shaw as long as there’s a diversity of products on sale. People could come in when they are cold and it’s in a prime position.

“It would lead straight through to the market outside. I have spoken to quite a few people about it and they think it’s a great idea.

The Chronicle recently revealed that traders on the Thursday outdoor market are concerned that it is struggling to survive and have accused Oldham Council of charging high rents and a lack of support.

Oldham Council leader, Councillor Howard Sykes, also a Shaw parish councillor, said he had asked officers to investigate whether Mrs Pemberton’s idea was feasible.

He added that whether it was a good idea or not depended on if it could be shown it would make money.