Market moving from Exchange Shopping Centre to former Black Box site

Rochdale Market is to move from the Exchange Shopping Centre with the lease with the Exchange to be terminated with effect from 28 January.

The council has considered a number of alternative locations and the preferred option is The Butts, however, due to the work that will begin in the new year on the reopening of the river, The Butts will not be feasible for 12 months.

It is therefore understood that as a temporary measure the market will be located on the site of what was the Black Box.

Traders licences for the current Exchange market will be terminated on 17 January.

In a letter to market traders the council has explained that traders will be receiving a 28 day notice of termination and asked to vacate by the close of business on the final day of trading, Saturday 17 January.

Speaking to Rochdale Online, the leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Richard Farnell said: "We have to move from the Exchange as the new owners want the market out as soon as possible and the penalties run into thousands of pounds and increase every week.

"It has been obvious to everyone in Rochdale that the previous owners of the Exchange had no interest in the market, did nothing to promote it and as a consequence it has been dying for years.

"Our plan is to inject new life into the market, to get more stalls and more variety, to offer shoppers a far better shopping experience and hence bring people back into the town centre in greater numbers.

"The site of the Black Box is a temporary measure until the work on The Butts is completed.

"The location being so close to the bus station and the tram stop will help and the council will do everything it can to make the new market a success and boost Rochdale town centre."

The council has proposed that the market be operated by an independent company three/four days a week.

The aim is to have the new market location operational from February.

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