Stafford’s historic market is set to be rebuilt after local MP Leigh Ingham successfully campaigned for £10 million of Government funding to create a brand new venue and help new local businesses get started.
For the past two years, Stafford has been a market town without a market. Since its closure, residents have been left without a place that was once at the iconic heart of the town centre.
Now, following a campaign led by Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, Eccleshall and the Villages, £10 million has been secured from the Labour Government to supercharge current plans for a new market hall, alongside a business hub to help local firms start up and grow.
The new multi-use market hall is planned to provide space for 28 independent businesses, including shops, food stalls, cafés and bars – as well as an area for live performances and events.
The new venue will provide opportunities for independent traders, support local enterprise, and help drive footfall into the town centre, while creating a space for people to meet, shop, eat, and enjoy events.
Leigh has long been campaigning for the market’s return: raising the issue in Parliament, gathering residents’ views and putting the case for investment directly to the Treasury.
Her town centre survey found that the vast majority of respondents wanted the market to reopen, strengthening the case for bringing it back.
Following months of campaigning and discussions with Government, the funding has now been confirmed in this year’s Budget.
Leigh Ingham MP said, “Stafford is a market town. We should have a market, it’s as simple as that.
“When the market closed, we lost more than somewhere to shop, somewhere to go and something to do. We lost a place where people met and where people had another reason to come into our town centre.
“I’ve spent ages making the case to Government that Stafford deserves better, and I’m delighted that we’ve secured the £10 million needed to start putting that right.”
The market has always been an important part of Stafford’s identity, and securing this funding means we can finally be a proud market town again, with a vibrant destination for residents, visitors and businesses alike.
People want to see Stafford town centre doing well again. So do I. And this is a big step towards making that happen.”
Chancellor John Healy said, “This Labour government is proud to invest in towns like Stafford, and when we talk about growth in every postcode this is exactly what we mean.
I know how hard Leigh works for her constituency. Brilliant work has already started to regenerate Stafford town centre and create a high street of the future.”
Leader of Stafford Borough Council, Aidan Godfrey, said “This is fantastic news for Stafford, a major win for our town centre, and contributes directly to the ambitious plans we have set out for the county town.
“We are grateful to Leigh Ingham MP for her determination in making the case for Stafford, to the Government for recognising the potential of this project, and our council officers who continue to work hard in delivering the biggest transformation in our town centre in a generation.“
Leigh regularly supports the high street and the success of local businesses. Recently she hosted a roundtable with independent businesses on Stafford high street to hear to their concerns and make sure they were being addressed. She also does a weekly business spotlight on social media to encourage people to support their local high street. As well as this, Leigh has recently launched a campaign to change the laws of compulsory purchase orders to end the blight of neglected empty buildings.
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