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Market reopens with flair

A new-look market featuring an impressive arch has been unveiled in a County Durham town. October 2006 marked the start of a major scheme to give Chester-le-Street town centre a new look with plans to refurbish the open air market, the second biggest open air market between Leeds and Edinburgh.

The £1.7 million market refurbishment works, which includes new stalls and a refurbished market place, took just over a year to complete. Part of the refurbishment works included the construction of an arch named the ‘Civic Heart’ which will be a focal point for the town centre’s market place.

The market place will have a 150 stands/stalls. Market traders will operate as normal, with traditional markets being held on Tuesdays and Fridays and the ‘second-hand goods’ market on a Saturday. The new market will be promoted to encourage new traders including French markets and farmers/organic markets. The Council’s market officer’s office will be on-site at the market place.

Councilor Chris Jukes, regeneration and strategic planning portfolio holder, said: “The refurbishment works at the market place will greatly enhance the town centre. This will obviously benefit local people, and in particular local market traders and businesses. Our regeneration efforts in the town centre will boost the town’s appeal and attractiveness, and I am sure every visitor will have a positive experience. We are looking at further facilities for shoppers, traders and visitors.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .