Walsall market plan delayed by railway work

Council chiefs are drawing up revised designs for the near 800 year-old pitch following concerns from traders over the initial proposals.

A consultation was held at the start of the year and fears were raised about the robustness of the demountable stalls, whether a back-to-back layout will work and accessibility as part of the £1.75m revamp.

But the need to rebuild a rail bridge which runs underneath Park Street in Walsall town centre will lead to delays in the project with some digging work necessary.

This is part of the electrification of the Chase Line, which runs between Rugeley and Walsall.

It means the revised designs for the market are now not due to go before the decision-making Walsall cabinet until the end of the 2014, meaning work could not begin until 2015.

Council leader Mike Bird said: "They have got to dig down and there is work to be done underneath Park Street, it is going to delay things.

"We have got to put that jigsaw together. The railway is the railway, the electrification is long overdue."

It emerged earlier this month the rail bridge which dates back more than 100 years is to be rebuild as part of £30 million plans for the electrification of the line.

The scheme is due to start start in autumn and the bridge over the rail line, which runs beneath Park Street, needs to be rebuilt for the electricity lines to power the trains.

Network Rail insists the main shopping street will be open to business as usual and efforts will be made to minimise disruption.

It is the latest phase of moves to electrify 15 miles of the Chase Line.

Council chiefs recently agreed additional time to look at the market scheme following feedback from traders and the public following a consultation.

Just over 60 people favoured the preferred location and layout for the pitch, with around 20 people against these proposals. Around 45 traders have also voiced their concerns.

Under the plans, the market would have 70 stalls to reduce the amount that are currently vacant.

There are also proposals for a back-to-back layout so stalls face pedestrian routes and adjacent shop fronts.

Traders and storage areas would back onto one another along a central aisle.

The new stalls would also be demountable so when the market is not operating it can act as a public open space.

There would also be an outdoor seating area adjacent to The Bridge and additional bin stores provided.

The market was initially based in Digbeth but was moved to a temporary site near The Bridge in the town centre in 2009.

Some traders relocated earlier this year to make way for the multi-million pound transformation of the Old Square shopping centre, with Primark and the Mid-Counties Co-op expected to move in.