SHOPPING centre chiefs have withdrawn ambitious £3m plans to develop a new market hall in Mid Cheshire.
Winsford Cross Shopping Centre owner Mar Properties was keeping tight lipped over the reasons behind the move this week, but said more plans could be on the cards in the future.
Earlier this year, Mar unveiled proposals to demolish a row of Fountain Court shops to make way for an indoor market hall on the same site.
A spokeswoman for Mar told the Chronicle this week: 'We have withdrawn the plans but I am not willing to go into the reasons for the move at the moment.
'We will hope to be back in a while to revisit the proposals, but it's not on the cards at the moment.'
Asked whether future plans would involve the relocation of the existing market, as originally proposed, the spokeswoman said: 'It's a possibility but not at the moment.'
With the regeneration of the existing market now going ahead, Neil Hodkinson, chairman of the Market Traders Committee, said his members would be happier staying put.
He said: 'We have got to the position where we are saying enough is enough. Mar has not demonstrated to us that it is capable of running a market. Its experience is in running shopping centres full of national chain stores.
'Unless it can demonstrate what it can provide is better than the support the council will be able to provide, then we aren't interested.'
Meanwhile traders are celebrating the £130,000 improvement grant for the existing market announced last month.
The cash was withheld because of uncertainty about Mar's plans for the market but work is due to get under way next month and Mr Hodkinson said: 'Obviously we are very happy. It will be the first real money being spent on the market in 15 years, but we are very unhappy about the length of time it has taken, and this can be laid at the doors of both Mar and Modus (the centre's previous owners).
'While both were dragging their heels, we have been losing trade - seven traders have moved elsewhere in the last 12 months.
'Now we are looking forward to the future. The market has a very proactive manager in John Green who has spent a similar amount of money at Northwich which is making a big difference.
'The traders would like to thank the people who, over the last few years have continued to shop in what has become a drab and dreary place. That will all change.'
