Traders in Newton Abbot's pannier market are to stay put until after Christmas after being told that tenders for the £1.3 million refurbishment of the historic building have yet to be awarded.
The stall holders were meant to have moved to temporary accommodation in the cattle market in January, but legal wrangles have delayed the transfer. Teignbridge Council had to issue a compulsory purchase order for the Chicken Café, which is to make way for new toilets in the scheme, after a price could not be agreed with its owners. It is understood that, although a deal has now been done, contractors have yet to be appointed and are unlikely to be so until the end of June. Ron Southcombe, chairman of the Newton Abbot Market Traders' Association, told the Advertiser that he was not altogether unhappy with the situation but wanted shoppers to know the latest developments. 'It doesn't really matter that the move is delayed just so long as it eventually goes ahead,' he said. 'In fact, next January is not a bad time at all, even if it will be a year later than planned, as things always go a little quiet after Christmas. 'I just want our customers to know that we're still here and, as I've said all along, it's business as usual.' A spokesman for Teignbridge Council confirmed that tenders for the project were being sought and that the project would proceed once terms had been agreed. Mr Southcombe said he hoped some provisional works could start towards the end of August if the tendering process was successful.