Craft centre in Leigh is told to move out (From Echo)

Craft centre in Leigh is told to move out

7:00am Friday 7th September 2012 in News By Jasmin McDermott

A POPULAR antiques market has been forced to close its doors.

The Leigh Antique Shabby Chic Arts and Crafts Centre, in the Elm Works factory, Leigh has been given ten days to pack up and move out after plans for a dance school were given the green light in June.

The market, in Glendale Gardens, first opened last November after owner Matthew Allen decided he needed a bigger place to trade.

He also aimed to bring antique market shopping back to the town by bringing in traders from across the area.

He originally signed a six-month lease for the building, which was extended by another two months and, finally, an additional month to use it as a base for antiques and furniture traders.

However, the father-of-two has now been told to leave the building.

Matthew, 33, who lives near Belfairs Park, in Leigh, said: “I don’t know what to do. I have nowhere else to go once I move.

“There is nowhere big enough to rent and I have spent a lot of money renting this place, as well as on solicitors fees.”

A total of 15 traders filled the market when it first opened. However, that number has dwindled to just six because of the uncertainty over its future.

He added: “We wanted to have a tea room there, as well as fruit and food stalls. I wanted it to be like a little Camden market.

“The application for the dance school had been turned down once before, so we thought they would not be approved a second time.

“There was a lot of uncertainty, because even when the plans were approved, we didn’t know if they would actually go ahead with them.“ The Echo reported in May the building would be used by the Amanda Restell Dance Academy.

However, estate agents Hair and Son, which owns the property, refused to say who would use the building or what it would be used for. A spokesman would only say: “We do have interest in the property.”