SHOPPERS in Ashton under Lyne will soon see a new market hall rise where the old one - devastated by fire - once stood.

Plans for a new market building are to go ahead after an insurance payout of é9.5m. The old hall was destroyed in a blaze three years ago.

Although the redevelopment of the market hall had been expected to cost more than é15m, council officials say they are `happy' with the payout and deny the amount is lower than requested. The proposed layout includes a covered market and a civic square, to host open-air events and activities.

ARTIST'S impression of how the new hall will look.

But plans for a contemporary curved steel roof have now been replaced with a more traditional design. The Bow Street entrance, which would have been lost under previous plans, will now be retained. Construction will begin this month.

A spokesman for Tameside council said: "All the funding is now in place. The insurance claim was based on a like-for-like building, not the improved one we intend to build. The new design will keep the project within budget and the solution remains attractive and spacious."

The spokesman said the rest of the funding will come from the council and the European Regional Development Fund.

There will be traffic restrictions from January 15 for 18 months, while building goes on.

Ashton's original market hall was built in 1881, with the town granted a charter to hold a market in 1294.

It was largely destroyed by the early morning fire in May, 2004, with only part of the exterior remaining. The temporary Phoenix market hall was created at a cost of é2m.

The plans are expected to be finished by late spring next year. Tweet