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Our businesses go up in flames

Eve Dugdale
26/ 5/2004

IN time buildings can be renovated and stock can be replaced, but for traders in Ashton market a way of life and a complete livelihood has been destroyed forever.

Ashton market is the biggest in Tameside and plays home to 100 businesses. Many of these businesses are family-owned and generations old.

• David Conn, of Gareth and David Conn butchers, has been working in the market for 72 years.

"I've been there since I was 15, I'm 87 now and I was hoping to do three quarters of a century there. I know a lot of people, I've served daughters of daughters of daughters."

"I've seen people this morning who have come down to buy meat and I've just thanked them for their custom over the years", said David.

"I am sad but I shall feel it more when I get home and have nothing to do, I'll really feel it then. There's nothing I can do now."

• Alf Pearson owns a butchers stall in the market.

He said: "We've been in the market 45 years and I've been here 20. Fires are one of those things you know could happen, but you don't think it ever will."

"I've got 10 staff who have worked here ever since I started up and now what will they do?"

"We were busy, we had good business and overnight it's just all gone; there's nothing left."

"It's an old market hall in an old market town and people used to come here from miles around. We've had people come here from the Cotswolds."

• Gordon and Sheila Brown run a haberdashery stall. "We came down as soon as we heard, it's unbelievable."

"Such a big piece of history is gone."

"If it's anything like when Oldham market burned down it will take years before things are sorted out and we can start trading again, so it's probably finished us."

• Chris Duffy owns the vacuum cleaner stall.

"A lot of old people come down from all over to use the market and it had such a friendly atmosphere. Luckily I have a repair business on the internet so I hope I can survive on that."

"But I don't know how other people will cope."

"So many people are employed here, not only stall holders but kids who work on a Saturday, it will affect so many people."