Historic Newport market hall is solid despite plaster fall
The owners of an historic market hall in Shropshire have said the building is 'as solid as a rock' – despite sections of plaster falling to the ground.
An area around the market hall in Newport was cordoned off on Saturday morning after bits of plaster fell. No-one was injured.
The Newport Market Trading Company, which owns the 153-year-old building, said the damage was caused by frost.
Company chairman Andrew Davies said: "A bit of plaster work fell off because of the frost. We cordoned it off and we are examining the roof.
"With the weather we've had there are lots of people who have had problems with their properties.
"Things like that get blown apart with this sort of weather. But the building is solid as a rock. The work which needs to be done is just decorative."
Mr Davies said the whole building would be re-decorated during the spring.
He added: "It will be all bright and sparkling again. We do it every three to four years."
The upstairs of the listed market hall, in Stafford Street, has not been used for about 14 years.
Mr Davies said it would need £200,000 of work to be brought back into use.
"There is not a lot we can do to the ballroom without spending stupid amounts of money," Mr Davies said.
Some town leaders have called for The Newport Market Trading Company to hand the upstairs of the property into the ownership of the town.
But Mr Davies said: "It's one of the company's biggest assets so I don't think the shareholders would be keen.
"We are always willing to look and listen to suggestions."
