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Blitzed

9/ 6/2004

THIS is the scene of devastation at Ashton's burnt-out market hall.

The Advertiser was granted exclusive access to photograph the charred remains of the Grade Two listed building.

Fire investigators are undertaking the painstaking task of sifting through the rubble for clues to the cause of the fire.

And this week it was announced that Tameside Council is providing a temporary site for beleaguered traders.

Builders are now in the early stages of erecting a prefabricated building on Cross Street car park to be completed in around three months.

Plans are for three inter-linked halls - one for food and two for non-food traders - which will accommodate market staff just yards from their original home.

Councillor Kieran Quinn, cabinet deputy for economic services, said: "We knew the best thing we could do for the traders was to get them working as soon as possible and we wanted to maintain that close link between the indoor and outdoor markets."

"It was also important to choose the right site as it will be used for two or three years until the market hall is rebuilt."

He added: "Ironically, there is a bit of history to even our temporary site as it is thought to be one of the earliest sites for Ashton market back in the 13th century."

For traders fighting to salvage their livelihoods, the temporary hall can't be built quickly enough.

Stallholder Victoria Mullings, of Victoria's Lingerie, lost around £30,000 of stock in the fire.

She said: "We are up and running again on the outdoor market, but a lot of the traders haven't been so lucky."

"We are all pleased because we just want to get back in and trading as soon as possible."

Final checks are now being carried out to make sure the new site is safe to build on and scaffolding will soon go up to protect the shell of the Grade Two listed market hall.

To replace the current car parking at Cross Street, space will be provided at the empty New Charter Housing Trust flats on Wellington Road, due to be demolished for the tram terminus, and at a former council building on Mulberry Street which is due to be knocked down.

Investigators say it could take months to establish what started the blaze.

Divisional Officer Barry Jones said: "I have never seen anything like it - everything is completely destroyed."

"It's a mammoth task and I would imagine we will be here for some time. Rather than just one property, this is about sifting through the 116 stalls in turn to try and find the root of the fire. At the moment we don't know so we are working with the police and the forensic science service and are keeping an open mind."

Mr Jones is appealing for anyone who saw or heard anything or has photographs of the blaze - which took hold in the early hours of 25 May - to contact him at the on-site cabin on Market Street, Ashton.

Market stallholders have posted messages for customers on Tameside Council's website, thanking them for their support and - where appropriate - letting people know if they are trading elsewhere.