Former Eccles Market Vendors Reflect with Market Demolition Imminent

The planned demolition of Eccles Shopping Centre and the multi-storey car park above it begins this January. This includes the Eccles Indoor Market which was home to numerous local vendors.

The vendors there have since been evicted by Salford City Council to make way for demolition. However, their handling of the situation has been met with mixed responses from former market vendors.

Donna Tighe, owner of Harold’s Café, had only just started her business in the market when she was told it was closing. Despite the prompt eviction, she was happy to stay in the community when she moved: “We could have taken compensation and gone, but it’s a lovely community around here”.

She was also happy with the help the council offered her: “They helped us with that. They gave us a couple of different ones we could go to. The council have been alright”.

However, Yvonne Thompson was far from happy when she found out her shop, Evee’s Bespoke Gifts and Cards, after over six years in the market would have to close. She discovered this from another vendor and not from the council. She said: “It was just a conversation we were having one day, and he just said, ‘What do you feel about being kicked out of the market?’ and I went ‘Pardon?’”.

When Yvonne was finally told about her options, she said she was told: “You can either pack up and go home or find your own place”. She went on to say: “They offered us compensation, which for me was a smack in the face. It was a year’s rent and then £3,000. So, I would’ve walked out of there with five grand, but I’ve put 40 grand into my business”.

Despite their varied experience with the council, both Donna and Yvonne agree the demolition is necessary for Eccles. Yvonne was hopeful when she said: “Salford Council have bought that problem. Hopefully, they’re going to fix it for the good. We won’t see that at least for another five years”.