The ground where Congleton’s former cattle market once stood is being tested to see if it is stable enough to stage outdoor events in future.
Market Square, enclosed by the police station on one side and the town hall and museum on the other, has been a grassed area since the former council offices, which replaced the market, were demolished in 2016.
An update on the future of the land was given during Congleton Town Council’s annual meeting recently.
During the meeting Congleton resident Nino Manci, former chair of what was Congleton Civic Society, said: “We currently bring a lot of people to the town with festivals and the space we have isn’t sufficient to hold those events.
“We have a wonderful area at the back of the town hall, which could be ideal for that sort of thing and we don’t need to close any roads if we have events there.”
Mr Manci also suggested that the space could be used for additional town centre parking.
The grassed area, which now features a heart-shaped bed of wildflowers during the summer, was once a thriving cattle market and was also the site of the former fire station.
An extract from the “Chronicle” archives from December 1900, described a “great concourse” of people filling the square, with 530 animals on sale.
We reported: “Cattle found stalls around the west and north sides of the market and in the centre. Pigs were accommodated on the east side, while sheep, five in a pen, came between the swine and the cattle in the centre.
“The people flocked-in in large numbers, and but for the excellent way in which beasts cleared them now and again, traffic might have become rather congested.”
The cattle market was in the town centre for more than 60 years until it closed in 1964 and moved to Manchester Road, the land now covered in housing.
In 1968, new council offices were built on Market Square, which were demolished 10 years ago.
Speaking at the annual town council meeting last month, Coun Suzy Firkin explained that Cheshire East Council had control of the land, which was still classed as a demolition site.
She said: “The council will be carrying out a survey of the site and taking samples to find out how stable it is.
“We have suggested so many great ideas for what we can do with that space over the years, and had them turned down, it is very frustrating.
“It is way up there at the top of our wish list. I don’t think there is a single councillor who hasn’t had a go at trying to bring this into town council ownership.”
She added: “We haven’t given up and it is on the list of things we want Cheshire East to devolve to us.”
Coun Sally Holland, who sits on the town and Cheshire East councils, shared her frustration.
“I have advocated for a long time to do something with this (land), and it is very frustrating that we just don’t seem to be getting anywhere with it.
“I’ve advocated for a couple of things. One was a bowls area – it could be a social space that would be cheap and cheerful.
“Another thing it could be is a dog park as we haven’t found a good location for that. If anyone thinks they would be good ideas, or has different ideas, maybe we should get some feedback and see if we can move them forward.”
Speaking after the meeting, Coun Firkin said she was unsure if the space could become a permanent home for the existing market, currently overlooked by the Bridestones shopping centre.
She said: “It is too early to say at this point, as there are too many people involved. Cheshire East also owns the Bridestones Market, which further complicates things.”
One market trader said he would consider moving to the grassed area as he was concerned for the market’s future after seeing a decline in traders.
Tom Goodwin, who sells free-range eggs, said: “This market is not well advertised and is poorly marketed, so I would definitely consider moving up there (Market Square) as it’s a nice space.
“Here, it is a case of use it or lose it, as some people come down every 18 months or so and when they do, they’re shocked at how it’s changed.”
Regular customers David and Lin Brown raised concerns about the market’s accessibility during the winter months and said they would support the move to Market Square.
