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Traders 'really excited' to move back into market

Ollie SamuelsNorth West, Colne
News imageBBC A man and a woman smile in front of a simple interior background. The man on the left is bald with stubble and is wearing a top that reads Colne Cricket Club. The woman has strawberry blonde hair, glasses, and a green and blue jumperBBC
James and Kathryn, who run stalls at Colne market, say the new space is "vibrant" and "exciting"

Traders are "really excited" to move back into Colne Market Hall in May after spending more than two years on a temporary site on Hartley Square.

The regeneration has cost £4.8m, which included £3m from the government's levelling up fund.

Stallholders agreed the "dark" old market had needed a revamp, and James Wareing, who runs Pendle Home Entertainment, said people would see a huge change, with a "great new space" which was "bright and vibrant".

Councillor David Whipp, leader of Pendle Borough Council said: "It's a huge investment and a marvellous opportunity to expand the businesses in Colne."

The new market contains enough permanent units for 11 traders, space for temporary pop-up stalls, a food court with five small kitchen pods and a bar.

Upstairs, new artisan craft studios are being installed, with the idea that creatives can make their products there and sell it in the market below.

Whipp said he hoped the market would be "really lively", and that it "certainly fit in with the vibe that Colne has a great culinary and night-time economy place."

News imagethe outside of a building. It's modern looking, with overlapping grey vertical slates. Above two small windows a black sign reads "COLNE MARKET HALL"
Colne Market Hall has undergone a multi-million pound regeneration project

Kathryn Pana, who owns KP Crafts, told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's getting really close now" to being able to go back, and "everyone has a really excited feeling".

The old market needed renovating, she said, adding:"It was very dark and it wasn't very attractive to the younger generation especially."

News imagea large indoor space, with painted white walls and flooring. On the lower floor, four people stand in a large space. On the first floor, railings, and behind them, a series of doors
Overlooking the new food hall at Colne Market

Kathryn said she hoped the food court would attract more people to the market, and there would be "people sitting and enjoying a coffee, who will have a look round all the stalls".

The Market Quarter Group will be taking over the operation of the food hall.

Colne Council said it was impressed by the company's operation in Congleton, Cheshire.

News imageA man stands smiling looking up in a black tshirt. In the background, empty white stalls for market traders can be seen
Council leader David Whipp is pleased with the new market hall

Kathryn said she had been following the progress of that market on Facebook.

"It always seems to be busy, it's absolutely packed, they have events on, music on, different things on all the time," she said.

"And i'm so excited that that's what they're going to bring to Colne."

The new Colne Market Hall will open on 1 May.

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