Market improvement work in Newcastle under Lyme to begin soon

Work is about to begin on Newcastle’s historic market as part of a large investment in its future.

Refurbished stalls, part of High Street remodelled and rent-free stalls for traders on Mondays are all part of the £390,000 plan approved by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council last autumn.

The same number of pitches will be available for the busier markets and once finished the scheme will include four parking bays for very short stays and a public space running through the centre of lower High Street.

Money for the work comes from the Borough Council’s successful bid to the Government’s Future High Street Fund.

The town offers general markets on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, antiques markets on Tuesdays and Thursdays and specialist events on 29 Sundays throughout the year.

Initial work will start soon focusing on creating the new green area through lower High Street and making the space for the temporary stalls for the events market.

Some stalls will be moved during the process, but there will be room for every trader to carry on.

Plans also include the possibility of a digital screen installed in the lower High Street by a public space where people can congregate to watch big events live.

The existing taxi rank area will be unchanged, while the area around a digital screen would be landscaped after installation and, finally, four very short stay ‘nipper’ car parking spaces will be created.