Shipley: Solitary trader seen at market due for £4m revamp

The renovation of Shipley outdoor market will be funded by the government

Just one trader was seen operating at a West Yorkshire market which is due to undergo a £4m revamp, a council meeting has been told.

Shipley's outdoor market is to be redesigned with money from the government's Towns Fund, which will see a new public square created.

At a Bradford Council meeting, Shipley councillor Anna Watson said more must be done to support market traders.

The council confirmed it was looking at options to try to attract traders back.

Ms Watson, Green Party councillor for Shipley, said: "When I went there the other day there was one market trader.

"We're doing the infrastructure, but are we doing any unified thinking about what is going to happen to support more market traders?

"There is no point in putting millions into the scheme if some days we just have one trader."

Angela Blake, assistant director of economy and development, said the council was looking at the markets in Keighley and Shipley, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported.

"We want to get increased footfall into the markets and give the support needed to encourage more traders," she said.

"We're going to be doing a lot more promoting of the markets to try and attract traders back."

She said the council was looking at options for more "pop-up" market stalls run by people who might not necessarily want to be regular traders.

Plans for the redevelopment of the market square will be funded by £1m from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and £3m from the Shipley Towns Fund.

The refurbished square will include more green areas and an all-weather canopy to cover the stalls.