Walsall Market to open every day after £1.75m revamp
The historic Walsall Market will operate up to seven days a week following a £1.75 million revamp, under plans.
A new-look pitch including a food zone is to be created in Walsall town centre with work expected to start this April.
The 800 year-old market currently runs for five days a week but the improved 70 stall event will have the potential to trade more days.
The market is due to be permanently based around The Bridge with a food zone and canopied area near to Halifax bank, subject to formal planning approval.
The application put forward through council consultants Arup says: "The current market operates on five days of the week, being closed on Thursdays and Sundays.
"Wednesday is acknowledged as the quietest day, with Saturday the peak trade day.
"It is proposed that the new market, on the completion of phase two, will have the potential to operate up to seven days a week if so required in the future."
It adds the aim is to create a vibrant market place to replace the poor layout and unappealing appearance of the existing event.
Some traders will have to be temporarily moved during the project which is due to be carried out in two phases. Some stallholders also need to move during work towards the electrification of the rail line and Old Square shopping centre transformation.
The market was previously based towards Digbeth and High Street. But it has temporarily been
based around The Bridge and the Park Street area since 2009 while plans for a fixed location have been developed.
The permanent location will house about 70 stalls in a back-to-back layout so traders face pedestrian routes and adjacent shop fronts.
The stalls will also be demountable so when the market is not operating it can act as a public open space.
The Sister Dora statue will need to be slightly re-positioned with the popular Hippo sculpture also needing to be temporarily moved to the civic quarter. However, it will return once the project is completed.
The Source of Ingenuity fountain also needs to be moved but is set to be put in storage as there are no plans at this stage to bring it back.
