Once an outdoor market, now a pile of rubble

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The outdoor market stalls in Ashton have been dismantled, leaving a pile of rubble. The area where the fixed stalls used to sit - in the shadow of the town hall - is now a fenced-off building site.

It is part of a project that will see fixed stalls and kiosks replaced with a large canopy. The new covering will provide outdoor market traders with protection from the weather and is expected to become a hub for events and cultural activities, the council says.

The new structure has been designed to prevent pigeons roosting underneath, a report added. As construction work continues, the outdoor market stalls will be temporarily moved to Fletcher Square and Market Street, where they are expected to stay for around a year.

The indoor market, next door to the construction site, will remain open. Ashton Market Hall is also set to be upgraded as part of the town hall's ambitious £250,000 Market Square masterplan.