MOVING the People’s Market in Wrexham to the empty former Woolworths store would be a dream, traders say.

But they feel the chances of it actually happening are not that high because of costs and the fact a private company has taken on the store.

As the Leader reported last week, the premises have been sold at auction to a national property development company.

Since then Leader readers have suggested moving the market to the empty retail unit on Hope Street.

Many others got in touch with other suggestions including a multimedia store, a baby superstore or an indoor market.

Mike Mullen, former chairman of the National Market Traders Federation, runs TJ Carpets in the People’s Market.

He said: “I think it’s a splendid idea and would be lovely in an ideal world but it depends on costing and price.

“I think it could be possible and we would get a far greater footfall in that area of the town.

“I like the idea of the People’s Market going up there and maybe even the General Market could go up there. I don’t think many people would be against that.”

Barry Williams, secretary of the National Market Traders Federation, runs Beauty Box in the People’s Market.

He said: “I think it’s a lovely idea but it’s wishful thinking because it would never happen. It’s a dream that could never happen.

“The council don’t own the property and any developer would not afford the rental value on the property.

“The People’s Market has got a lot of vacant stalls and needs more stallholders.”

He added: “I don’t want to see any more pound shops or cheap shops in place of Woolworths, we need quality there because people are going to Eagles Meadow.”

Naveed Aslan, who runs Origin Clothing in the People’s Market, said: “Anything is possible. I would move tomorrow if they were to move us.

“It is a good idea to have markets in Woolworths. In Manchester they have the markets in the town with a food court and it looks great.

“We would benefit because it would be busier and we would be in a central location. I know the rent would go up but that would be ok if we had more business.”

On the Leader website ‘minis’ wrote: “As a small business in Wrexham, I would love to be able to move on to the main street, so maybe an indoor shopping centre/precinct?

“Individual glass fronted units, similar idea to the Grosvenor Shopping Centre at Chester? I would definitely be interested.”

A council spokesman said:  “The old Woolworths site has been bought by a private company and there have been no discussions with regards to moving any of the markets.”