Controversies over the closure of a Bolton landmark nearly 20 years ago re-emerged at a pre-election meeting.

This came during a question-and-answer session held by the Bolton and District Pensioners Association ahead of this year’s council elections.

The debate focused in particular of the regeneration of the town centre, with the controversial closure of the old Market Hall all the way back in 2007 brought up once again.

Association vice chair Florence Hill said: “We could have had a whole session just on Bolton town centre such was the interest.”

The event was held on the morning of Wednesday, April 17 with Cllr Debbie Newall invited to represent Labour, Cllr John Walsh for the Conservatives and Alan Johnson of the Green Party.

The Bolton News: The Market Hall closed in 2007The Market Hall closed in 2007 (Image: Newsquest)

The Liberal Democrats and Reform UK had also been invited but were unable to attend.

Mr Johnson brought up the old Market Hall as the discussion touched on Bolton Council’s plans to remake Crompton Place and the fate of the Deansgate Marks and Spencer building.

He reminded those gathered that 88,000 people had signed a petition to save the hall in 2007 posing the question “where they wrong?”

The closure meant that more than 50 businesses, some of which had been run in the Market Hall since it opened in 1855, had to shut.

Some moved to Bolton Market on nearby Ashburner Street, while others simply closed down entirely.

But since the Market Hall closed, a £30m revamp was launched to convert it into what is now the Market Place shopping centre.

A further £20m refurbishment took place since then, bringing in new high street stores as well as restaurants to The Vaults.

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Cllr John Walsh, who was first elected to the council in 1975, said that the 88,000 person petition referred to by Mr Johnson did not take the state of the building into account.

Cllr Walsh said: “That petition did not set out all of the facts.

“The roof of the Market Hall was falling in, it needed the best part of £20m to make it viable and some of the traders may have had to move out.”

He added: “It was a tough decision the council had to take at the time but ultimately they helped to secure a magnificent Victorian building.”