BOROUGH bosses have been urged to look at every option to revive Darwen’s three-day market hall before contemplating its demolition.

Sudell councillor Paul Browne wants a “root and branch” review of its operations and new, possibly private sector, management to try to save it from closure.

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The Liberal Democrat politician has been backed by Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade president Tony Duckworth and council Tory group leader Mike Lee.

They were reacting to a report by Blackburn with Darwen borough regeneration boss Phil Riley to the council’s executive board, recommending the three-day market hall’s closure and demolition.

It proposes replacing the “fundamentally obsolete” building with “a potential landmark development”.

The proposal followed a review of markets in the town, which highlighted a drop in footfall and 40 per cent vacancy rate.

The 17 existing stallholders are to be asked if they will relocate to the adjoining daily market and annexe.

In advance of Thursday’s meeting to confirm the a consultation on the “preferred option” of closure and the immediate suspension of lettings at the three-day market, Cllr Browne called for a rethink.

He said: “We need a root and branch review of the three-day market.

“Before the borough considers closure, it needs to bring in new management, possibly a private company with experience of running markets successfully.

“The council has never properly tried making a go of the three-day market.

“It needs to look at things like increasing competition and ending the rule whereby new traders cannot sell items on another stall.”

Mr Duckworth said: “It is a somewhat old building but the council needs to look at all the options for revitalising it before they look at closure.”

Cllr Lee said: “It seems to me that you should consult before coming up with a preferred option.

“It is the wrong way round.

“The council should be exploring ways of making it a success before proposing closure.

“They should not suspend lettings of stalls but just go for short-term leases while they look again at the issue.”

Cllr Riley’s said: “I am not sure that the council tax payers of Blackburn with Darwen would consider spending £1.7 million restoring the three-day market a good investment of their money.”

He said the council would consult widely with not just market stallholders but traders elsewhere in Darwen, shoppers, businesses and the Town Centre Partnership before a final report to the borough executive board..

Cllr Riley promised a strategy would be developed for the whole of Darwen Market as part of a wider examination of how to regenerate the wider town centre.