Market Drayton market work nears end

The long wait for traders to return to a newly revamped north Shropshire market hall will finally be over next week, Shropshire Council has revealed.

According to officials, the £600,000 transformation of Market Drayton Market Hall has been completed and will be open for business from Wednesday.

An assessment of the work to the premises off Cheshire Street has been carried out and traders have been told they can move back into the premises from Sunday.

Work on the market hall revamp includes new flooring, stalls and lighting, as well as a new entrance to the building.

The news has been welcomed by councillors in Market Drayton who are glad the long wait is finally over.

Councillor Roy Aldcroft said: "It's splendid news. It's been a long and somewhat treacherous road, but we have finally got there.

"Hopefully it will bring in a lot of new customers into Market Drayton."

Councillor Roger Hughes said: "I am delighted for traders that they will be able to move back into the new indoor market."

The project came to a standstill last February when original contractors Frank Galliers Ltd, of Shrewsbury, went into liquidation with debts of almost £10 million.

The unitary council, which is overseeing the project and owns the site, set up a temporary market hall for traders to use while the work has been carried out.

But traders said they never expected to spend so long in their temporary home at an empty shop in Cheshire Street.

Dave Welch, from the Welch Poultry stall, said traders were looking forward to moving back to the market hall, but had raised fears over the size of the new stalls.