Blackpool’s Bonny Street Market set to close its doors after 37 years
Latest Blackpool News
Bonny Street is currently home to Blackpool’s largest open air market but not for much longer, this popular market set to close for good after 37 years due to a possible major redevelopment of the site.
Bonny Street Market, with its central location, has been a favourite amongst locals and visitors alike for 37 years but the end of an era will soon come to pass following the announcement that the site will be taken over at the end of November for the £300 million development of the Blackpool Central leisure complex. The Labour-run council has been blasted for doing nothing to assist in the relocation of the hugely popular market and while the stallholders agree that any regeneration in Blackpool is a good thing, many customers are sad to see the market close.
The general feeling is that the council has abandoned the stallholders, the rents alone contributing towards an annual income of £120,000 for the local council. With unemployment higher than the national average in and around the town, the loss of a further 25 jobs due to the closure of the market will come as another blow.
Conservative councillor Tony Williams was vocal in his anger at the forced closure of the market. He said:
“Closing the market means the potential loss of around 25 jobs at a time when unemployment is high in the town.
“The council’s actions once again indicate their lack of empathy for the town’s businesses.”
In response, a council spokeswoman said:
“Unfortunately we have now reached the stage that the land will be required early next year to allow major site investigations to take place for the Blackpool Central development.
“In the past we have discussed other potential outdoor locations but they didn’t meet the traders’ requirements.
“We appreciate no site will be as central as their current location but we are more than happy to discuss ideas they may have.”
The new £300m development will include boutique holiday apartments, an artisan food hall and an indoor theme park.