Video 6

Interview with Local Shoppers

Obviously, you’ve come down to look at the damage. What do you think, what’s happened, what do you think it means for Ashton?

It’s terrible really I mean. It’s not just the people that have actually got the stalls inside the market, it’s the spin offs from that as well. I mean, such as the chemists, the shop round there, the chip shop round here. And if they don’t rebuild it there and they locate it somewhere else, it’s going to affect all the other shops isn’t it? Because they get the trade. People come to the market and then they go to the other shops.

Did you used to shop at the market?

Yes. Everyday. We went to the butchers there everyday. I don’t think there is a butchers in Ashton now. Not a local butchers, only supermarkets. Yes, that’s all there is. Yes, there’s nothing else.

So, do you know people who worked in there?

Yes. A couple of our neighbours worked there. Friends of ours. Yes. She worked at the butchers shop in there. Next thing it will be that. She’s been there for years hasn’t she? We’ve heard of one stall holder, she hadn’t been in the business long, she’d just bought the business, mortgaged the house up to the hilt, and all that’s gone to magic and she can lose her home now she says.

But Ashton people are strong, aren’t they. That’s one of the…

Oh yes, you know, but that’s been there… I mean, what are they going to do? Are they going to rebuild on the same place?

Well the Council is… They don’t know yet… the Council’s actually trying to find another site, a temporary site and then they’ll have a long term plan for what they’re going to do. But they can’t do anything at the moment, just planning. But certainly they are hoping that within 6 to 8 weeks to have a new temporary site. They’ve got a few different places in mind.

I can’t see them trying rebuilding that historic build …

Well, I’ve heard they haven’t decided yet. But they’ll certainly be hoping to preserve some of it. If they can’t rebuild it.

Look what happened in Manchester when the bomb devastated all that part and they absolutely rebuilt the whole lot and its brilliant now you know. But I suppose it could be planned something like that. It’s not going to be like Ashton without the market hall and the outside market. I mean, really, if they build another market hall, where’s there enough land to build an outside market as well, the two go together don’t they, really?

They’re supposed to be talking about building the new Metrolink. Weren’t they? We heard that they wanted this site – I don’t know.

Just a rumour that we’ve heard.

Well, I thought it was over the other side? I thought it was more the Penny Meadow side?

Yes, but we heard they wanted this area, so I don’t know. It’s just things that you hear people talking about, locally. I was born in Ashton, I wasn’t born far from here, Union Street. Wife was born in Blackpool. I’ve lived here all my life.