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Bolton is exploring building on its status as a market town to increase the amount of cash brought into borough. Ideas include using newly created spaces for markets, a meeting heard. This comes with work still underway to get some of the existing stalls at Bolton Market off Ashburner Street onto new leases.
A recent Bolton Council deputy leader meeting heard questions about how progress was going on plans to create another £16,000 worth of income from the new leases. Cllr Adele Warren, of Breightmet, said: “Previously when I had oversight of the portfolio it was going to take two years to get to the newer leases for markets. Heaton Fold garden centre “So, it's whether that work has been completed and how realistic that’s going to be in a 12-month period to increase those rates, if that’s the plan, to gain an additional £16,000 or if it's going to be having opportunities for other markets such as Heaton.
” Elizabeth Park is a possible place for further market stalls (Image: Bolton Council) Cllr Warren asked if this could also include further markets in district centres like Horwich or Westhoughton. The market plans come amid a range of other measures proposed by the council to try and slash its budgets. In response, council assistant director of development and regeneration Paul Whittingham said that the authority was still working on some of the leases and had an “active project” underway.
But he also told the meeting that ideas about further stall spaces elsewhere around the borough could also be used to try and create more income. Mr Whittingham said: “What we’ll be talking about is having a business plan for creating additional income over and above the project to get all the leases in place .” ALSO READ: A big boost for businesses at five-star food hall ALSO READ: Bolton's first new park in 120 years scoops major award ALSO READ: Bolton named 10th most 'quintessential' market town in UK He said that this could include having outdoor stalls operating “occasionally” at Bolton Market as well as having additional and more regular markets.
This could also include more regular markets at Heaton Fold and working with other kinds of businesses to expand on them. Mr Whittingham said that the council could also use Elizabeth Park, Bolton’s newest park that was opened off Ashburner Street in March 2024, for markets. He said: “So again, it’s a multi-layered approach to bringing in additional income rather than increasing rents.
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