Market hall takeover planned by Ellesmere Chamber of Trade

Business leaders in north Shropshire today unveiled plans to take over the running of a town's market hall.

Ellesmere Chamber of Trade wants to run the town's market hall in Scotland Street after a £50,000 revamp at the site was shelved as part of spending cuts across the county last year. The chamber hopes to transform the hall's fortunes with a revamp and a new farmers' market.

The plans, which would see a group set up to run the hall, will be discussed at a full meeting of the chamber on Thursday.

If chamber members support the move Shropshire Council would still be responsible for bringing the hall up to scratch and repairing the roof.

Lincoln McMullan, chairman of the chamber, said the deal was pretty much done.

He said: "The last meeting went very well and we are nearly there with an agreement.

"We'd like to have local business people, stall holders, Rotarians, town councillors and, if we can, someone from Shropshire Council on the board to help run the hall.

"There would be about 12 people in the group and this body will come up with new ideas."

Mr McMullan said the proposals were in their early stages and local residents would not see any changes in the short-term.

"We have people lined up to take on the job of key holder and taking bookings, and the like, but there wouldn't be any immediate changes," he added.

"The future is looking bright."

Ellesmere Chamber of Trade has asked Shropshire Council for funds to help it start running the hall, but precise figures and completion dates have not yet been arranged.

The chamber could also take over ownership of the hall within two or three years. Mr McMullan said there were many ideas for the building.

He added: "As part of the proposals, the deal would be reviewed in two or three years and the chamber could take on full responsibility of the site.

"At the moment Shropshire Council still owns the hall but we could buy it off them for a small amount in a few years' time.

"We would raise money privately to run the hall – it's been running at a loss."