Traders 'desperate' to move into new indoor market

Business owners who are "desperate" to move have been told the opening of their new building has been delayed.

Stallholders at Tommyfield Market in Oldham are waiting to move into a redeveloped Spindles Town Square shopping centre but have been told it will not be ready for the promised July but the council are "hopeful" it will be ready in August or September.

The Spindles Town Square shopping centre is being redeveloped after Oldham Council bought it for £9.5 million in 2020.

Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: "The July deadline has slipped - but it has to be perfect and we will support the traders when they move over."

Justin Brierley's family have run a footwear store at Tommyfield Market since 1967.

The 54 year-old said he had seen reduced footfall in recent months, which he says is because "people think we're closed".

He told BBC Radio Manchester the wait for moving is "dragging on a bit now" but he was still "optimistic" about it.

The redeveloped Spindles Town Square shopping centre will include a food and drink court connecting to Parliament Square, opposite the Old Town Hall.

There will also be an events space and office space.

"This is long overdue for them. They will be moving into a new space which will be fresh, vibrant and hopefully improve their businesses." Arooj Shah added.

Mark Crossley has been a fishmonger at Tommyfield Market for 37 years. He said his customer-base has changed over the years which he says is due to "new faces coming to Oldham".

"We're extremely excited about the move and we're chomping at the bit to get over there." he said.

He added how the new premises will be a "much better environment for customers".

The first market in Oldham was founded in 1788 and the land soon became known as Tommyfield.

There are plans to turn Tommyfield Market Hall into a six-acre public park, between Albion Street and St Mary's Way once the traders move to their new premises.

Some traders are less optimistic about the Spindles Town Square development.

Graeme Simpson, 58, runs a watch repair and jewellery business on High Street, he isn't convinced moving premises will help business.

He said: "I hope it is going to be good but I doubt it."

"You used to have cars and buses on High Street, then they pedestrianised it. People are loitering around and you don't feel safe."

Traders were given a 50% reduction in rent by Oldham Council in 2022 to support them after the Covid lockdowns, with this still remaining in place.

Once the businesses move into the new building they will pay no rent for the first four months.

Ray Aslam, 40, has owned Kandy Kingdom in the market for 22 years. He said: "We lost a lot of our regular customers during Covid".

"Right now we're on a half-price rent - but four months after we move we'll back to full rent. Its still do-able because its cheaper than having a shop on the high street".

Ray Aslam, 40, has owned Kandy Kingdom in the market for 22 years. He said: "We lost a lot of our regular customers during Covid."

"Right now we're on a half-price rent - but four months after we move we'll back to full rent. Its still do-able because its cheaper than having a shop on the high street."