New Ellesmere Port market: Can the multi-million pound scheme help revitalise the town?

“Ellesmere Port needs cleaning up and you’ve got to start somewhere.” That ‘somewhere’ is an £8.5 million major revamp of the town’s indoor market, which is due to commence next month.

It’s an attempt - funded by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund - to increase footfall to the area and save the town’s ailing high street. And it’s one that Michelle Evans, owner of Karmiq market stall, says is much-needed.

“There’s just not very much here anymore,” Michelle says. “The whole of Ellesmere Port has gone quieter and quieter - this is the one place that I can honestly say you still have footfall.”

For Michelle, whose stall sells incense and alternative giftware, the market revamp is the change that Ellesmere Port’s town centre desperately needs. Modernising the well-loved market, whilst maintaining its traditional quirks, is something she feels hopeful about.

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“I still think a good market should have a little bit of everything. I think you should be able to go from buying a lump of cheese to a pair of knickers.

“Years ago, that’s what a market was. You could come and get anything you wanted for your house… any foods, any gifts.

“That’s what I think it should be - lots and lots of little stalls that have a bit of everything. It would be lovely if we could get it to that.”

She pointed to the new Chester Market model, which celebrated its first birthday last November.

It’s an obvious comparison to make. Just nine miles away, the same council (Cheshire West and Chester Council) used the same architect firm (AHR) for the same job (to turn the old indoor market into a vibrant modern version of itself).

The one aspect that remains different, however, is the location. And the question is: Do Ellesmere Port and Chester require the same approach?

The Chester market formed part of the Northgate development, and the council’s goal was for it to become a modern-yet-traditional market.

But critics have bemoaned the large focus on food and drink stalls - a move away from the previous traditional market much like Ellesmere Port’s.

Michelle believes that to allow Ellesmere Port market to thrive, as well as support the local area, there has to be some change - despite it feeling uncomfortable.

“As much as people moan about Chester Market, it has made a huge difference there,” she said. “It seems to have worked and they’ve made a bit of money.

“We’ve got to change you know, as time goes on. As they say, you’ve got to break some eggs to make an omelette.”

Another trader with an optimistic outlook for the market revamp is Jeanette Ward, who owns Scented Stocks Florist. Her time selling there has been tumultuous, with many highs and lows.

She said: “I started when there was a recession on and VAT went up 20% from 17.5%, so it has been an uphill struggle, but I just love what I do.”

Jeanette is keen to see the newer market steering clear from focusing too heavily on just food and drink.

“Chester Market is like a big food hall basically, whereas this is going to be more like a traditional market…like it is now.

“People haven’t got much money in Ellesmere Port - they won’t spend much on food and stuff like that, so it needs to be reasonably priced.”

Having spent all of his working life in the old Chester market, running his family butcher stall, Geoff Hughes thinks that the revamp was just what it needed. He strongly believes that Ellesmere Port ought to welcome the change, even if there is somewhat of a focus on food and drink.

He said: “The old market now to me is memories. The old market was a jaded building, and it was dying.”

With a common complaint of the new Chester market being it’s abundance of food stalls, moving away from the traditional model of goods and produce, Geoff sees no issue in modernising and responding to customer demand.

“We have got a lot of food people in here, and markets have gone that way,” he added.

Using his own experience and success in Chester market as his reference, Geoff is confident that after a potentially bumpy start, current stall holders in Ellesmere Port will benefit from the revamp.

“I’m sure they’ll all do OK when they go into the new market. We’re very happy. No negativity with this place at all.”

Based on what traders view as an opportunity for improved footfall and customer engagement, there is hope and optimism in what could be a step in the right direction for Ellesmere Port’s struggling high street.

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