DETAILS of Bury's multi-million pound market revamp have finally been unveiled.
And once complete, council chiefs say Bury's premier shopping facilities will attract customers from around the world.
Main features of the £5 million refurbishment of one of the town's top attractions will be a new market building, which will include a fish and meat hall.
The contract for the work has been awarded to Yorkshire firm John Sisk and Son Ltd, who have worked on similar schemes in Bolton and Blackburn.
Council leader, Cllr Derek Boden said: "We are very excited at the prospect of boosting further the standing that Bury's famous market has - not just locally, but nationally and even internationally."
He thanked traders for their patience in the run up to the work, adding that now the plans had been firmed up, contractors would liaise with them on a regular basis.
Work on the mammoth refurbishment will begin next month and should be complete by June 1999.
And the new fish and meat hall should be fitted out by January, and is expected to be serving its first customers by April.
Key points of improvements include better weather protection for customers with fixed roofs over some aisles and new roll-out awnings in other areas.
New lock-up tenanted stalls will run parallel to Murray Road and around the new market building.
Improvements to the existing market hall will include a new surface, lighting and direct access to Millgate.
Better traffic control is also planned, with better surfacing of the pedestrianised areas and improvements to market approaches.
New street furniture including lighting, seats, signs and cycle stands will also be provided.
Cllr Boden added: "We have attempted to come up with the best value for money scheme that we can. Although that has meant some compromises, we still have the kind of refurbishment project that will keep Bury Market in the fore right into the new century.
"We are very optimistic about the future and see no reason why Bury's increasing reputation as the place to shop in the North-west should not just grow and grow."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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