END OF AN ERA.

[TANGODANCER]

This week will see another one-hundred-and-fifty-three years of Bolton history disappear forever.
Thanks to the entrepeneuring Justin's and Nigels who occupy the positions of power in local council offices, Bolton Market Place will finally close down to make way for an eighteen-month development of so-called "refurbishment" that will cost thirty million pounds and kiss goodbye to the jobs and pride of dozens of traders, some who have been in family businesses for many years. The stately Victorian edifice, one of Bolton's pride and joys, will be transformed into what appears as a round-ended, glass-fronted trolley bus of a shopping mall to house "a host of big-name stores". Whoopee. Helelujah.

The -in the words of local traders- "unjustified and commercially driven" project is designed-in the words of the local council- "necessary change to cement the town's position as a major shopping centre". Despite eighty thousand of the local populance disagreeing by means of submitted signatures of protest, the Nigels win again. The views and wishes of the people, it seems, are of no consequence against those of the already rich, let's get richer, brigade

Peter Hardcastle, secretary of the Market Hall Traders Association, said "Bolton is going to lose something unique". An understatement that carries no weight with the actual market place owners-Agora Shopping Centres - who are using the council as nothing more than a messenger service to inform the citizens that they matter little in the grand scheme of things. Being one of those who signed the petition, the whole thing makes me feel sick. Butchers, bakers and candlestick makers are small potatoes compared to yet another host of high-flying outlet chains of overpriced luxury items.

The Trafford Centre at least had the decency to be built outside of the city and not take a way any of Manchester's architectural dignity. Bolton Council considered no such trifling item. It would serve the council and Agora right if the project turned out to be a massive commercial flop. Small consolation to the dozens of traders who have made it their home for so many years.

Bones of the article from the Manchester Evening News, sentiments entirely mine (and those of eighty thousand of Bolton's marketeers)

[communistworkethic]

I think you post points out it's own error - the council had nothing to do with the decision, the owners i.e. Agora, did.

While the stalls may be traditional and hark back to times gone by they are frankly purveyors of tat in the majority. When I return to Bolton I find the Market Hall a bit of an embarrassment. The architecture is listed and will be rightfully protected the rest is past its sell by date.

[superloop]

I believe the council had a hell of a lot to do with this. Can't say why i do but i do (says super enigmatically )

[communistworkethic]

all they can have been involved in is agreeing the planning consents, not deciding to kick the project off. They were not involved in Agora's commercial decisions.

If the people of Bolton want to live in the past, why not go back to gas street lamps and all walk round with flat caps and whippets? Times move on, oh I bet there was uproar when they flagged over Newport St. And the horror of building the Market place extension and knocking down the shoe shop where Icon now is. And I wish were back at Burnden.

[Batman]

Howe'er that Italian restaurant in the Market Hall is superb.

[TANGODANCER]

I think you post points out it's own error - the council had nothing to do with the decision, the owners i.e. Agora, did.

While the stalls may be traditional and hark back to times gone by they are frankly purveyors of tat in the majority. When I return to Bolton I find the Market Hall a bit of an embarrassment. The architecture is listed and will be rightfully protected the rest is past its sell by date.

Well, we'll just have to disagree on that one. We have bought our meat from there for many years, Sumners is one of the finest picture/ornament stalls ever, Bailey's "pot-shop" has sold fine china there for so long I've forgotten, the iron-mongers and watch repairers are quality traders and there are two good, cheap music outlets. Add to that several decent watch and jewellery stalls, a good bag shop, three cafes, Greggs and Openshaws pie and cake shops and numerous decent priced clothes outlets etc, and only the imminent closure saw the demise of many others that had been there for years. On its perimeter, but within its walls, it already has a H Samuels, Next and Debenhams. A lot depends on your definition of "tat". Then again it was a market place, not the Trafford Centre.

[superloop]

I'm afraid that "living in the past" does not apply.

There are a number of "modern" shopping centre type places in Bolton already, (The other bit of the market hall, the Arndale, Shipgates) so we will end up with more of the same shops, whoopee f**kin do, however the market hall, while it does have its tat, also has a large number of stalls where you can get things other shops don't sell. Spencer Maris for example, now i don't expect you all like making cakes etc but if you need the materials for this where will you get it now? Cake tins, cake decorating stuff etc etc.
For me, effort in getting more of this type of specialist shop, would be the right move to bring more people in.

Just one more reason not to bother to pay extortionate prices for parking and go to Middlebrook etc

[Batman]

BWFC should reinstate the 'Centre Spot' shop.

[americantrotter]

I quite enjoyed walking around the market hall with a pie. I know my wife loved it, and my parents look forward to going back every time they are home.

[warthog]

You’ll probably get your wish TD, in that this is likely to be a massive flop. Why go to big name stores in Bolton when you can do the same at the Trafford Centre and park for free?

The developments over the past few years have been disastrous. The extension to the Market Hall was designed in such a cack handed fashion that traffic from the north is forced to enter the town centre down a grubby backstreet.

Then there’s that heap of scrap metal on Newport Street that’s slowly destroying the railway bridge. If you have an arch, it’s a good idea to be able to pass under it as you enter the town. It’s a one way street. Going the wrong way.

Remember the Water Place? How could you forget? It was an ugly concrete monstrosity that looked like something out of an Eastern bloc country. And it wasn’t possible to have a swim if you went in there.

Worst of all is the way that the high rents on Bolton Market are driving the traders out. Now it’s dying on its feet and a feature that Bolton was once famous for will soon be gone, if the council get their way. Then we can all pay supermarket prices for fruit, veg and fish and get inferior produce in return.

I don’t know if the people responsible for this are bent, incompetent or both, but if they could be rounded up and buried in the foundations of the refurbished Market Hall at least some good could come of the development.

Bastards.

[communistworkethic]

aye ornament stalls are the future! Come on people, is it any wonder southerners still think we bathe in a tin bath in front of the fire?

[ratbert]

It's not just a question though of tradition, or competing with the Trafford Centre; it's Bolton becoming another 'clone town' with the same shops as anywhere else. Say what you like about the Market Hall stalls, they were individual and had character. I remember my mum taking me to the saspirilla (sp) stall or to Spencer Marris for Christmas Cake decorations.

A shame, and I don't think the town will benefit half as much as the council thinks. When the same shops are 12 miles down the road in Manchester, only bigger and therefore with more choice, people will just go there instead.

[superloop]

Commie stick to posting babe pictures you make sense then

[communistworkethic]

Commie stick to posting babe pictures you make sense then

Bolton town centre is embarrassing, it hasn't hung on to its heritage sufficiently to have any right to suggest that the stalls in the market place are either quaint and traditional nor are they in keeping with a modern town with pretentions of city status. Protecting the old and having specialist shops can work, visit Haworth or Hebden Bridge for good examples. But the stalls in their are shoddy throwbacks to the 70s. They simply add to the mish-mash of styles and crappulence which abound in Bolton.

[superloop]

I'm afraid that "living in the past" does not apply.


For me, effort in getting more of this type of specialist shop, would be the right move to bring more people in.

Think thats what i was saying before, rather than making us look quaint to the bloody southerners

[communistworkethic]

specialist shops??? Which one is actually a specialist shop?? Of all of those stalls, which sells goods you cannot buy elsewhere, in fact in probably 2 or 3 other shops in the town centre? Trainers? Health food?Gabbici Jumpers? Mobile phones? Pies? Shoe Mending? Key Cutting? Papers? Cards? Perfume?

Oh yeah sorry, there's the one that sells big knives like the Klingons have in Star Trek. Must hold on to that one.

[superloop]

I see you have confirmed my opinion that you don't actually read other peoples posts just the bits you want to. Maybe i should bore everyone else and repost the entire post rather than the pertinent bit. The specialist shop i was referring to was Spencer Maris, can you tell me where in Bolton you can buy the things they sell?

[TANGODANCER]

aye ornament stalls are the future! Come on people, is it any wonder southerners still think we bathe in a tin bath in front of the fire?

The future? How do you define that in terms of markets? I'm talking markets and tradition here Commie, not Dan Dare. Not seeing your point at all. Sumners specialises in pictures and fine art objects that a lot of people take great pleasure from. Not sure either what you want to see in shops in a market place? Surely Bolton has enough of everything without needing to add more of the same and take away the basic functions of a market place. Retail Parks, supermarkets, MacDonalds and J.B Sports outlets we have a-plenty.

And quite frankly, I don't give a damn what mental pictures southerners conjure up about Bolton. That's the very least of my considerations in life, believe me.

[communistworkethic]

aye ornament stalls are the future! Come on people, is it any wonder southerners still think we bathe in a tin bath in front of the fire?

The future? How do you define that in terms of markets? I'm talking markets and tradition here Commie, not Dan Dare. Not seeing your point at all. Sumners specialises in pictures and fine art objects that a lot of people take great pleasure from. Not sure either what you want to see in shops in a market place? Surely Bolton has enough of everything without needing to add more of the same and take away the basic functions of a market place. Retail Parks, supermarkets, MacDonalds and J.B Sports outlets we have a-plenty.

And quite frankly, I don't give a damn what mental pictures southerners conjure up about Bolton. That's the very least of my considerations in life, believe me.

Sorry TD but your definition of Fine Art and mine are clearly light-years apart. If you want a market you've a bloody big one less than a mile away.

[communistworkethic]

I see you have confirmed my opinion that you don't actually read other peoples posts just the bits you want to. Maybe i should bore everyone else and repost the entire post rather than the pertinent bit. The specialist shop i was referring to was Spencer Maris, can you tell me where in Bolton you can buy the things they sell?

A supermarket last time I looked.

Plus, are they incapable of finding alternate premises?? If they are such a vital service to the cake-making denizens of Bolton, surely they will have no problem surving a change of venue.