A derelict Stoke-on-Trent market could become international food hall – run by refugees – according to plans being drawn up for Burslem’s crumbling 125-year-old indoor market, reports Stoke on Trent Live.
image: for illustration purposes only
North side of Market Place ,
Dave Bevis Wikimedia Commons
… asylum seekers and refugees showcasing the foods of their homelands, as well as cultural groups using the space…
Stoke on Trent Live writes:
Community campaigners are drawing up ambitious plans to transform a derelict indoor market into a thriving international food hall with stalls run by asylum seekers and refugees.
Talks are taking place between community groups, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and a leading food and market hall operator to bring the crumbling 125-year-old building in Burslem back to life. It was recently included in the Victorian Society’s top 10 most endangered buildings list.
Proposals currently being discussed would see asylum seekers and refugees showcasing the foods of their homelands, as well as cultural groups using the space for arts, music, exhibitions and performances.
The project team, which includes the Our Burslem community group, artist Ian Mood and regeneration expert Mike Riddell, are working with Colchester-based Market Asset Management, which helped to relaunch Crewe’s market last year, to put the plans together.
The council-owned market, built in 1897, closed its doors in 2003 after a ceiling collapse and has remained empty ever since.
Volunteer Annette Cartlidge, of the Our Burslem group, nominated the building for the Victorian Society list and is involved in the plans for its redevelopment.
She said: “I don’t think there’s any shame in living in a town where some buildings need love, attention and kindness. The shame lies in not seeing that potential and doing something about it.
“The indoor market is one of many buildings we’ve identified and will be doing our positive and level best to regenerate and restore. As a group, we believe buildings are like people – they deserve kindness, they deserve a second chance, they deserve that we look at them and see the potential and that’s what we’re trying to do.
“There are many of us who see this particular building as being of great social significance, who feel the same about it as I do. Our indoor market is emblematic of our town.
“Its pointed arches, glorious ironwork and old advertising signage remain, just waiting to be rediscovered. The idea we have is to bring the building back into a commercial use for the benefit of the community, and for it to become a key catalyst in a wider community-driven town centre regeneration plan for Burslem town centre.”
Market Asset Management worked with Cheshire East Council on the £3 million redevelopment of Crewe’s historic market and now looks after day-to-day operations at the site….
Abi Brown, leader of the city council, said: “Stoke-on-Trent is a city with a huge amount of potential, and as a city council we are keen to talk to investors interested in bringing Burslem Market back to life, maximising the enthusiasm of our local community and the interest in our heritage….”
