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Save our market

Sue Carr
2/ 6/2004

IT'S time to stand up and be counted - we have to get Ashton market hall back on its feet.

The outer wall is all that remains of the historic landmark after a fierce blaze tore through the building in the early hours of last Tuesday morning.

But as well as destroying thousands of pounds worth of stock, more than 100 stallholders were not insured - their livelihoods are in tatters.

Now The Advertiser has teamed up with Tameside Council to launch the 'Ashton Market Hall Phoenix Fund.' The target? A whopping £1 million.

Councillor Kieran Quinn, cabinet member for economic services, says anything else could see 'the heart ripped out of our community'.

"Ashton's indoor and outdoor markets are at the heart of our community," he said. "We have heard stories about other fires where it has taken the heart away from that town but we won't let that happen here."

"Realistically we need to raise £1 million and we really need everyone's help."

Representatives from the council and Ashton Chamber of Trade have formed a committee and are now hoping to canvass support from businesses in and around the borough.

The Greater Manchester Disaster Fund and the Tameside Mayor's Distress Fund have also been identified as possible sources of cash.

But most importantly, members of the public are now being called on to dig deep and help save their much-loved market.

Donations can be dropped off at all libraries, Tameside Council offices and at the Advertiser in Booth Street, Ashton.

If you are planning a fundraising event, you can pick up an official sponsorship form from the advertiser office, or you can download one here at the Advertiser's website at http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/phoenix_sponsor_form.pdf (NB: You need Adobe Acrobat on your computer to read this file - if you don't have it you can download it free from www.adobe.com)

Tameside Council has created a 'virtual market' on its website, along with all the latest news and information about the appeal and the market itself. You can go there by visiting http://www.tameside.gov.uk/tmbc1/firemarkethall.html

A time scale of two-years has been given before a replacement market hall is completed. A temporary market should be open for business in three months but no location has been decided.

• TAMESIDERS can now watch Ashton's temporary market hall taking shape whenever they like. For the work is being specially included to show on the Tameside Council website.

The development of the Old Cross Street car park is being put on webcam. Tamesiders can now watch the exciting work taking place on their own computers as well as being able to read regular updates on the building's progress.

Engineers are still carrying out detailed and technical work on the ground. The prefabricated structure, which will provide three impressive inter-linked halls, is due to arrive on site at the end of next month.

To watch the hall, which has been christened the 'Phoenix Market Hall', rise from the ground, log on to www.tameside.gov.uk and then click on the market fire link. Alternatively, people can visit 'W' in the A to Z for webcams.