BOLTON Market will be at the heart of Covent Garden-inspired plans to transform the town centre’s cultural quarter.
More details have been released on plans to upgrade the market and improve links from Le Mans Crescent, Victoria Square and Newport Street
Under the Government’s town fund scheme, £1 million will be invested to improve the connection between Bolton Market and Newport Street and more of the £22.9 million earmarked for Bolton town centre is set to be released once plans have been given the green light.
Bolton Council’s deputy leader and the councillor with responsibility over the market, Hilary Fairclough, said her vision is to make the town centre into a ‘vibrant’ place similar to Covent Garden in London.
She said: “I find this hugely exciting, a Covent Garden style area, where people can come for a coffee, a drink, a meal, and the market is very much amongst it.
“It’s very important if we are regenerating the very centre of the town we regeneration the whole of Bolton wherever we can. We can make a great link from the market, through the Octagon right through the town centre.
“It’s an award winning market so from that point of view it’s vital we recognise that success and build upon it, making it a central part of this regeneration. With the housing that is being built in the area we need facilities to provide for them.
“If you look at Manchester there’s so many things going on for the people living in the centre. Bolton is the biggest town in the country and we rightly have very high aspirations for it. We recognise this has been a long time coming and lots of excuses could be made for that but it is happening now and it’s so great to see it all coming together.
“We are really pulling out all the stops now, the time is right. I’m delighted the market will be playing a key role in all of this.
“A lot of people can think the market is on a limb now but it is going to be in the very centre of our new cultural quarter. I’m very old fashioned but I love this town and want everyone to be as positive as possible about it and make it a lively and exciting place to live.”
Under the plans the outdoor market would be refurbished, the internal halls would be upgraded and entrances to the building would be improved.
Martyn Cox, leader of Bolton Council, also said the moves would help the area. He said: “Before we get it we need to put forward a business case, providing the government is satisfied with that and if the consultation goes well then I think it will be a significant improvement
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