First look at new market building

As the new market’s 'soft' launch grows closer, Rochdale Online can reveal a glimpse of how the new venue will look.

There is a new small food hall on the ground floor of the old Santander Building, with a new restaurant/café taking the whole of the first floor and a suite of office space.

On The Butts, demountable gazebos will be available for ambulant trading and by the end of the year, a small number of bespoke business cabins will also find a permanent home on the open market site.

Malcolm Veigas, Market Operational Director (part of Quarterbridge), said: “Problems with supply chain means that the Market Hall will be delayed slightly. Our expected market days will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays in the first instance and we are encouraged by the responses to date from potential traders.

“It will take a few weeks to re-establish Rochdale town centre as a worthwhile open market venue but we are confident that our gazebos, which will include heating and lighting when required, our back of house facilities and the draw of the new food hall will resonate with existing shoppers and encourage new visitors to our themed market days.

“We are really looking forward to the opening of this new market offer which we know will complement the £250m redevelopment of Rochdale Town Centre and help to bring new life and vibrancy to The Butts area.”

Disabled parking will be located near to the former Santander bank, using the same spaces outside the former Royal Bank of Scotland.

Andrew Storey, head of highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The market has not affected disabled parking provision, so, as before, the closest parking available for disabled people are the bays near Stationer’s Entry, in front of the former RBS bank.”

A number of businesses have signed up for this Saturday’s preview, such as The Straw and Spoon, The Travelling Pizza Company, Bree’s Herbal Teas and Fizz Bomb, who are based on Drake Street.

Familiar faces from the Friday market that confirmed they had been approved to trade on the soft launch day include Peter Jordan, Susan Harrison, Amna Masood and Abdul Qayyum.

Others, such as Jeff’s Fruit and Veg and Hussain Wahid, were still to find out if they were successful in applying for the preview when Rochdale Online spoke with them.

Mr Jordan has sold his farm produce on his Rochdale market stall since he was a teenager back in 1959.

The Jordan family’s history is part of the market’s heritage, with Peter’s grandfather, Patrick, setting up the family’s stall on Yorkshire Street back in October 1919. The family have moved with the market ever since and retained their loyal customer base.

Speaking on the penultimate trading day, Mr Jordan, who now sells eggs and plants which he produces on his smallholding and nursery, said: “There has been a lack of information and no interest in our position. My granddaughter did the online application for me. Initially I was rejected, but we submitted it again and I was accepted. We are waiting to see if we are successful for a four-day position in the new market.

“They have lost two good traders with messing about, and the bollards outside haven’t helped. That said, I am looking forward to the new market.”

Susan Harrison, with her new age stall, confirmed she is to return after the preview, offering collectable figurines, candles, diffusers and oil burners, essential oils, handcrafted wooden goods and scented soaps.

Also speaking on the last Friday of trading, she said: “They have not made it easy. It has been hard work but I am looking forward to it.”

Jeff of the eponymous Fruit and Veg stall said: “I have applied for both, but nothing has been confirmed yet. It has been ridiculous the way we have been treated. I have traded here for 35 years and we have been treated like a joke. Who is going to pay our wages for the interim?

“It is scandalous; they have not been helpful. The market is a focal point of the town, where people meet and chat, and they’ve ripped the heart out. Well, they tried that when they moved the market to the back end of town.

“They should help the town. The council hasn’t helped one bit, but I won’t be beaten.”

A fourth trader, who was worried about having an application rejected if named, raised a number of concerns with Rochdale Online: “Is the market going to be insured? I am concerned the new stalls are not strong enough; they are not as thick and strong as what we have now.

“There are also problems with the bollards, as vans for the banks and even ambulances haven’t been able to get past. Some traders have been given parking tickets where the loading bay is because the sign says it is for ‘goods vehicles only’ but we all use cars.

“I am still concerned about toilet and washroom facilities; will these be provided? Quarterbridge would still charge rent if we can’t make it for whatever reason, be it bad weather or a family emergency. I have also had problems logging on to check my application.”

However, Uncle Albert’s recognisable green food van has been refused a spot on the new market, despite trading in the town centre for over 20 years.

They still have a presence in the town at a new location on Yorkshire Street, opposite the Wheatsheaf entrance.

After close to four decades in the Exchange Shopping Centre, Rochdale Market was forced to move to the former 'Black Box' site in January 2015 – itself a temporary measure – where traders operated for two and a half years without basic facilities. Work on opening the river at the time prevented the move of the market to the preferred location of The Butts.

The stallholders were then moved to another temporary location at Lord Square and the bottom of Yorkshire Street with a reduced number of stalls, which closed Saturday 4 August.