Traders have given a mixed reaction to news this week that work on the £600,000 refurbishment of Market Drayton’s indoor market could restart this summer.
Shropshire Council confirmed on Tuesday that the project was currently out to tender and that potential contractors had visited the site last week.
Work to refurbish the market has been on hold since the end of January after the collapse of Shrewsbury-based builders Frank Galliers Ltd.
Market stallholders have been trading from temporary premises in Cheshire Street and some wish to continue there, while others are keen to see the refurbishment completed.
Joyce Bell, who runs a fruit and vegetable stall with her husband George, said: “We’re looking forward to seeing the indoor market done but we’ve had no official confirmation from Shropshire Council at all.
“We would much prefer to be at our old stall because business is not very good where we are as we don’t get the passing trade that we had before.
“Based on the plans we’ve seen, the market should be very good.”
Dorothea Llewellyn, a market trader for more than 30 years, said: “I’ve got mixed feelings about it as I quite like it in the temporary market and I’ve got a reasonable stall.
“But at the same time, I think it’s an opportunity to expand and hopefully bring more people into the town eventually.
“I think it might be a good thing, but I can understand people saying that the council is spending a lot of money on doing up the old market.”
Another market stallholder David Welch said: “It’s nice that the council is doing the work in this present economic climate but it seems to have worked out quite well in the temporary market for the vast majority of us.
“It’s a good position right on the street and people who come in say ‘we don’t mind you staying in here.’
“But what will be will be and if we go back in the old market, so be it.”
When completed, the refurbished market will have up to 14 new stalls, a new roof, improved heating, lighting and a new entrance on Frogmore Road.
A Shropshire Council spokesman said: “We are currently out to tender and potential contractors have been viewing the indoor market site. We hope to appoint a new contractor towards the end of May.”
By Winston Brown