Bury's biggest controversy

By NickRichards | Monday, September 20, 2010, 09:16

Could there be a more divisive story in Bury this autumn?

Bury's Corn Exchange, where the weekly indoor market is held on Wednesdays until October 6

The indoor market in the historic Corn Exchange, which has provided a weekly focal meeting point for shoppers over the last dozen years has another three Wednesdays of operation before it’s turfed out and the building becomes a Wetherspoons pub.

The indoor market has been a popular extension to the outdoor market in Bury midweek with many people visiting the town for both and ending up in the Corn Exchange tucking in to the good value meals on offer.

Market organisers Nettaprise say they can’t find another suitable venue in Bury for their market to take place – they’ve turned down the new Apex building for starters due to expense and a trial of holding the market at The Athenaeum flopped.

So on October 6, the market closes for good and the two dozen market stalls will be forced out of Bury as the lease is handed over to Wetherspoons, a company that is well known for offering the cheapest food and drink prices on many of the countries high streets.

The new Wetherspoons pub will bring a considerably different clientele to the Corn Exchange – but as both the market and the pub have the same ethos of offering a cheap, warm and comfortable meeting point, is there really a major issue here?

Do you use the market? Did you actually know it was held in Bury on a Wednesday? Where do you think the stall-holders should go now?

What's your opinion?

Re-post Write a story

Ads by Google

Comments

We should finally know if the 'Spoons is coming to Bury on June 15. Wetherspoons have submitted a licensing application after councillors approved a planning application to turn the Corn Exchange into a pub.
A public consultation will take place until mid-June before the big final vote.

By NickRichards at 09:59 on 24/05/11
Report
April 28 is the date that this will be settled by St Edmunsbury Borough Council. On this day we should know once and for all if the Corn Exchange will be a Wetherspoons pub.
Personally I am in favour of the move. It’s going to create jobs, healthy competition and cheaper food and drink.
I know people say Wetherspoon’s has a bad image of promoting cheap drinks, but I don’t buy that. People can get drink cheaper from a supermarket. I think having a Wetherspoons in the centre of Town is just what Bury needs.

By NickRichards at 15:16 on 08/04/11
Report
Don't think this is so bad really. The market isn't all that great anyway and the food and drink at Wehterspoons is usually good value for money and will probably be more used by people than they think. I use the one in Cambridge all the time - why go for a drink in the pub next door when it's cheaper elsewhere?

By tg1953 at 16:44 on 27/09/10
Report
Have only recently realised there is an indoor market in the Corn Exchange but apparently it is very popular especially with older people. You can't blame them wanting to sit in somewhere warm after shopping at the outdoor market.
I think it is a real shame that the indoor market is not able to be moved to the Apex.

By SuziLD at 13:45 on 20/09/10
Report