£500,000 Tommyfield revamp plans

OLDHAM town centre could have a bustling new street market in place as early as this Christmas under ambitious plans to revitalise the ailing Tommyfield market.

Council bosses are investing nearly £500,000 to create a shoppers’ paradise, with moves to open a series of new stalls in Albion Street just in time to take advantage of the Christmas rush.

The area behind the market hall will also be repackaged as a specialised shopping area, with the potential for farmer’s markets, specialised Asian markets and flea and antique stalls.

And plans to replace the tired wooden stalls of old with new gazebo-style huts which can be taken down at the end of each trading day will bring an end to the eyesore empty stalls which currently blight the market area.

Councillors are hailing the moves, which they say form part of bigger plans to regenerate the town centre.

Councillor Mohib Uddin, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “For too long people have said that Oldham town centre looks shabby.

“This is just the beginning of a bigger picture to put Oldham on the map.”

Council bosses say they are in the early stages of plans and will be consulting with Tommyfield traders in the coming days.

They will also consult with traders from the Royton and Shaw markets, who will be given the new style market huts by summer next year.

Shoppers and stallholders can also look forward to extra parking space behind the market hall, as empty stone stalls on the outskirts of the outdoor market are demolished to create extra space.