£52,000 boost for market revival

MONEY Oldham has been granted to help businesses survive the credit crunch is set to be spent on helping people set up new market stalls.

The Government has given 107 local authorities funding to help town centres through the economic downturn with Oldham Council receiving £52,631. Oldham Town Centre Partnership (TCP) has consulted businesses over eight options on which to spend the money.

They have backed a business start-up scheme for market traders to help people set up their own stalls and improve the variety and quality at Tommyfield Market. They felt it would help to ensure the success of the market modernisation scheme and support the development of independent retailing in the town centre.

A good market was seen as very important in attracting shoppers to the town centre and helping all retailers.

The partnership agreed to back the idea but more work is needed to develop it further and work out costing. They also want the other options that found favour with businesses to be explored to see if they can have a share of the funding, or gain separate funding, as well.

These include extending the independent retailers scheme, which gives shops advice such as on shopper psychology, merchandising and window displays; grants of £2,500 to make vacant premises fit-for-use; and a public realm improvement scheme, such as tree planting and tidying up areas. Other options that proved less popular included installing window graphics on vacant premises, a ‘Go Local’ scheme, helping to fund arts-based events and activities and an award scheme to encourage shops to look more attractive.

Labour councillor Dave Hibbert cautioned: “I would hope that in supporting new trader set-ups we are not leaving existing traders to cope in the current climate. We need as many new start traders as possible but I hope we can help them as well and they are not abandoned.”

Spindles and Town Square Centre manager Mike Flanagan urged officers to make a start on the scheme as soon as possible so people can get the benefits.

l More from the TCP tomorrow