Christmas date for Drayton market revamp

Work to complete the £600,000 revamp of the Market Drayton indoor market is on course to finish before Christmas, officials said today.

Traders are set to return to the market hall early next year following the refurbishment.

The project came to a standstill in February, when original contractors Frank Galliers went into liquidation.

Shropshire Council, which is overseeing the work and owns the site, set up a temporary market hall for traders to use while the work was carried out.

But traders said they never expected to spend so long in the disused shop in Cheshire Street.

Many have run their businesses from the new site since last November.

Work on the market hall revamp includes new flooring, stalls and lighting, as well as a new canopy entrance to the building.

Dave Welch, market trader, said traders were eager to move back to the market hall but raised fears over the size of the new stalls.

He said: "We have been told that traders will move back in to the market hall early in the new year.

"I think traders are glad of the news but I am a bit concerned of the size of the new stalls. They seem to be smaller than the old ones."

Gareth Proffitt, spokesman for Shropshire Council, said: "Work on Market Drayton indoor market is due to be completed by December 17 and the market traders have agreed to move back in early next year to avoid any disruption to trade over the busy Christmas and new year period.

"Shropshire Council and our contractor are due to hold a meeting with the market traders on January 5 when all will discuss and agree the exact dates on which the traders move back in."