Council buys Uttoxeter market

UTTOXETER MARKET has been sold for an undisclosed figure to East Staffordshire Borough Council.

This has put pressure on operator Bagshaws to resolve planning and get a new centre open by autumn 2005.

The firm has applied to shift operations to a new site at Spath giving better access to the A50 trunk road.

But councillors have blocked plans, raising concerns over access and non-agricultural business activities included in the firm‘s proposal, says the company.

Norman Tweddle, senior partner at Bagshaws, said: “We are now considering three alternative sites in the A50 corridor, but the proposal for operations remains the same.”

Although contracts on the existing 2ha (5-acre) site were exchanged late last week, completion is not expected until autumn 2005.

“The important news for vendors and buyers is that it‘s business as usual,” said the company‘s Mark Elliott.