A BID to build a brighter future for Bolton's historic Ashburner Street Market has been launched by town hall bosses.

Customers and traders are to be asked whether they want it to be moved - or redeveloped. A number of sites are already identified for a relocation.

Doubts were raised over the future of the market at its current site after Sainsbury's moved its neighbouring store from Moor Lane to Trinity Street.

Plans to move the bus station to create a new transport interchange at Newport Street were mooted by the council.

Bolton Council chiefs say they want to regain the market's status as a focal point in the town centre and believe that a move away from its home of 70 years could be the best solution.

As part of a two-week consultation, about 500 customers will be asked for their views and opinions about the future of the outdoor and indoor market.

This will be followed by trader consultation on whether the hall would benefit most from redevelopment or relocation.

But traders said they would prefer to remain at the Ashburner Street site as long as the bus station remains next to it.

Toy stall worker Shirley Berrido said: "I think we are better off where we are.

"As with any business, we get bad days and good and the bus station pulls in a lot of passing trade. If that was to move, a lot of people would rethink their position."

Ian Warmby, of K2 K3 Cosmetics, said: "I think there are that many suggestions for the future going around that people do not know what to think."

Paul Fletcher, who works on one of the market's popular fish stalls, said: "Many people think it is not worth having a say because they don't listen to us anyway."

The move is part of a review covering all four of the borough's markets to develop a strategy for the future.

As well as talking to customers and traders, the council will also be looking at how the markets will fit into the borough's overall retail picture.

The Ashburner Street market, which was created in 1932, underwent a £5 million revamp eight years ago.

Deputy leader of the council Cllr Roger Hayes said he wanted to capitalise on Bolton's good reputation for its markets.

He said: "We are open minded on this issue and it is too early to say whether the market will be moved.

"A number of possible locations have been identified but we do not want to say what they are at the moment.

"If the mood is that relocation isn't wanted, then we would respect that the market is already in an important part of the town centre as it is."

Chartered surveyor Donaldsons has been commissioned to carry out the review with AMION Consulting.

The report, due to be published in November, is expected to form the foundation for the future role of the borough's markets, including Horwich, Farnworth and Westhoughton.

Markets bosses are in talks in a bid to fill recently vacated stalls in the fish market.

Raffaele Tuccillo, manager of Ashburner Street market, said: "All views will go into a melting pot when a strategy is drawn up to ensure the future of the market."

But leading Conservative Cllr John Walsh accused the council's Liberal Democrat leaders and the former Labour administration of allowing the Ashburner Street Market to reach crisis point.

He said: "Only last week, traders complained to me that trade is falling week by week. Stalls are empty and the downward spiral is clear."

Labour leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: "This is a thriving market. Running it down won't do anyone any good.

"There was large investment by the last administration. I will be interested to find out the feelings of traders and customers."