New site for market backed by cabinet

CONTROVERSIAL move . . . Shaw Market

A PLANNING application to permanently move Shaw Market to the main street will be submitted following backing for the proposal by Oldham’s council’s cabinet.

The decision was made despite 350 people signing a petition against the plan, which includes turning the former market ground on Westway into a car park.

The controversial move to Market Street started with a 10-week trial to tackle a decline in trade.

In November, members of Oldham Council’s licensing panel voted for the market to permanently move to its new base and to extend it close to Beal Lane, with stalls on Newtown Street.

Councillor Eddie Moores, deputy cabinet member for economy and enterprise, said the “overwhelming response” from the consultation was that people want the market on Market Street permanently.

But Liberal Democrat councillors — who fill all three of Shaw’s seats on the council — wanted the money spent on the move to go int the original market site instead