NEWTON Abbot’s historic, grade II listed Market Hall has been closed after deteriorating timbers were identified during an inspection by Teignbridge District Council.

Several traders, including Ashford Fruit and Veg, Something Different and Puzzles and Pins and Needles, have since set up shop in the vacant space of the adjacent Food Hall.

Traders receivd a letter on Thursday, September 7, informing them the Market Hall would close later that very same day.

The letter read: ‘Traders remain open for business during temporary Market Hall closure.

‘As part of the proposed Market Hall redevelopment scheme in Newton Abbot town centre, some investigatory work has been undertaken this week to identify the construction make-up and condition of the building.

‘As a result of this work, deterioration in the condition of some of the wooden roof trusses in the grade 2 listed Market Hall has been identified.

‘Discussions have taken place with the market traders this afternoon and for safety reasons, we are closing the Market Hall building today [Thursday, September 7]

‘Alternative arrangements are being made to enable traders to remain open for business and to continue to operate while further investigations are undertaken and repairs are made as swiftly as possible.

‘The Food Hall is not affected by this decision and will continue to open and trade as normal.

‘As a precautionary measure we will be carrying out further investigation works in the Market Hall.’

It is understood traders decided among themselves who would occupy the limited space avaliable in the Food Hall.

Kim of Something Different and Puzzles, who’s taken over the space formerly occupied by Bakers the Butchers, said:‘Nobody knows we are here, we need better signage.

‘We need something, especially with Wednesday being market day.

‘We just want to know what’s going on - we can’t trade out here in the winter.’

The impression one gets from having spoken with traders, is one of uncertainty: the timeline of how long the Market Hall will be closed for is unknown.

‘They reckon its going to be a week, but it is going to be more than a week - they haven’t even put the scaffolding up yet’ one trader said.

Ashfords Fruit and Veg said that, in spite of the circumstances, it was ‘good to be open’, and fellow trader Colette of Pins and Needles was hopeful people who find her at her new spot in the Food Hall.

A spokesperson for Teignbridge District Council said: ‘An inspection of the grade 2 listed market hall last week uncovered some rotting roof timbers which required us to close the building on safety grounds.

‘Thanks to the cooperation of traders and to our Market’s staff, temporary arrangements were made that enabled market hall traders to continue to open for business from the adjacent food hall.

‘Work on installing temporary support structures is underway and we hope that we will be able to welcome traders and customers back to the Market Hall early next week.’