Hopes as Brownhills Market set for return

The relaunched Brownhills Market could be open by the end of November ensuring traders are in place in the run-up to Christmas, it emerged today.

Three independent operators have expressed an interest with Walsall Council in taking over the Silver Street pitch for two days a week. They have now been invited to put forward proposals so council chiefs can appoint a preferred applicant. They hope the market will be open by the end of November.

The council-run market collapsed six months ago after traders and shoppers snubbed the pitch but a pilot project with an external operator is now being pursued.

Regeneration chief councillor Adrian Andrew said: "We have got to get it in place before Christmas so stalls can get trading. The feedback from the shop traders is that a market would improve their businesses."

The market would be held on Thursdays and Sundays for up to two years. It had been expected stalls would not return until Tesco created a new market square.