New entrance to £4.9m Wolverhampton Market revealed
Super market or terrible design?
The entrance to Wolverhampton’s new market has been revealed – but immediately faced criticism for being ugly and a waste of money.
Huge blue containers were dropped into place by cranes at the site opposite the Wulfrun Centre this week.
Final preparations are being made before the city’s new £4.9 million outdoor market is officially opened next week following its relocation from Market Square.
However, the council’s opposition leader has criticised the design and questioned the cost of the entrance, which has been formed by stacking together metal containers featuring the words ‘City of Wolverhampton Market’ in large white lettering.
Councillor Wendy Thompson said the design was ‘terrible’.
She said: “To call it basic is something else. If we spent any money on that we must be mad. If that is aesthetically pleasing to some people they must have a different idea than me.
“How can anybody think that that in any way is a pleasing entrance? It could have been done on the back of a fag packet.”
A Wolverhampton council spokesman said the market entrance was in keeping with the project designs.
Arrangements are being finalised for an official opening event next weekend following the launch of the market on Tuesday.
Work on the outdoor space was halted in May when contractors discovered ancient human remains on the site, and the planned opening was thrown into doubt.
However, despite a major archaeological investigation, work was able to continue and the market will still open on time.
The city council is relocating stalls from Market Square, where traders operated for the final time last month.
They will be moving to their new home at Southside, which will boast 20 cabins and 48 stalls along Cleveland Street.
Council bosses say they are confident the market will be a success in its new location.
Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment, said: “The new market, partly funded by the sale of Market Square as part of the Westside scheme, has loads of potential – and we want this to be the people’s market, where events are also encouraged.
"It will prove a major asset to the city centre.”
The market will feature bigger cabins, event space, CCTV, free WiFi, canopy covered walkways, offices, customer toilets, and parking and storage facilities.
