New market does not have enough stalls, traders say

A new indoor market hall in Greater Manchester will not have enough stalls, several of its traders have complained.

There are about 35 stallholders at the existing Wigan indoor market hall and they have been told there will not be enough room for them all to relocate next spring into a new building in the town's flagship Fettlers development.

Jonathan Lamb, who has run his JL Jewellers watch repair business for 33 years, said: "The council has said there will be 21 stalls in the new building and we've been told we have to apply for one, so it's like a knife in the back."

Aidan Thatcher, director for place at Wigan Council, said: "The feedback we have received is now being actively considered."

He said: "We have been engaging with traders on unit numbers, space requirements, and the balance between trading and complementary uses."

Lamb, 60, told BBC Radio Manchester: "I'm very optimistic about the new market hall and we've been promised the world by Wigan Council but we're not guaranteed anything.

"Wigan Council seem to be scrambling around to find more units in the new building."

In addition to the new market hall, the Fettlers redevelopment will boast more than 400 homes, leisure facilities, bars, restaurants, a public square and a hotel.

In April 2026, it was announced that Wigan Council would take over the running of the market hall from the Northern Lights Group.

Earlier this month, Wigan Council met with trader representatives, who have told BBC Radio Manchester they will be offered space elsewhere in the town centre if they cannot be accommodated within the new building.

Anthony Ainscough, who has run the Vacuum Repairs stall at Wigan Indoor Market for 40 years, said: "We're not guaranteed a stall ... you've got to apply for it, and I don't know what I'll be offered, so I can't really decide whether to move elsewhere in Wigan town centre."

The 62-year-old stallholder explained: "Having a shop is a different ball game because you've got to get customers through the front door, whereas in a good market you have passing trade."

Some traders have said the construction site for the new Fettlers shopping centre had left the existing market hall isolated on the edge of the town centre.

Wigan Council has provided rent reductions to help traders cope with reduced footfall.

Kathleen Leigh, whose family has operated the Clunan's food stall for more than a century, said: "We are a market and we need each other, so only having 21 stalls in the new building is a bit of a concern.

"I think they're wanting a cafe, like a Starbucks or a Costa, on the entrance to the new market hall and I'm not sure that's fair, if they haven't got room for the traders."

The current indoor market hall formed part of the Galleries shopping centre, which was officially opened by Princess Diana during a visit to the town in 1991.

The building was bought by Wigan Council in 2018 and its demolition began four years later, to make way for the new Fettlers redevelopment.

Like other councils in Greater Manchester which have bought their town's struggling shopping centres, the focus of the redevelopment in Wigan has been to move away from retail towards providing more leisure facilities and new homes.

Aidan Thatcher added: "We have commissioned an independent expert firm, working with us, to create a vibrant, bustling venue for the future market at Fettlers, including the optimum number of stalls and opening arrangements.

"We are committed to continue engaging with traders as more information is available."

Ray Smith, 61, has run the Jazz Shoe company at Wigan Indoor Market for 35 years.

He said: "We're very nervous because we were told by the council that everybody would be catered for - and now there's only 21 stalls.

"They're now telling us that they might find us a stall somewhere else in Wigan town centre but we want to stay together as a community."