People urged to have say on market hall's future

People have been urged to have their say on the future of a 19th Century market hall that is undergoing restoration.

Work is currently being carried out on the Grade II-listed Burslem Market Hall in Stoke-on-Trent after it fell into disrepair following closure in 2003.

The £4m project, due to finish in May 2027, includes a raft of structural repairs and stabilisation work to secure the building, Stoke-on-Trent City Council said.

The authority has now launched a public consultation asking people for their views on what its long-term future use could be.

The council said options included food and drink, independent retail, a market, live events, community activities, leisure or "a mix that brings people together across the day and into the evening".

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker said it was a "genuinely exciting" moment.

"After years of uncertainty, real work is happening on this building and now we want the community to be part of deciding its future," he said.

"Burslem Market Hall has enormous potential and we are determined to unlock it in a way that works for local people."

The consultation, which runs until 15 June, includes an online survey as well as two public engagement events in Burslem.

The first will take place at Barewell Art Studio on 28 May and the second will be held at 32 Queen Street on 10 June.

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