Threatened Coventry market wins top award

[dutchman]

A market which has been facing demolition has won an award as the most popular in Britain.


Coventry was voted Britain's Favourite Market in the National Association of British Market Authorities awards in an online public poll.

In June, English Heritage said the city's indoor market had been given Grade II-listed protection.

However council chiefs have said the listing could put £1bn redevelopment plans for the city centre in doubt.

They have previously said the market would have to move to allow the city centre revamp to continue.

'Nationally important'

It has approached the government which expected to ask English Heritage to review its decision.

English Heritage said the building was "nationally important" and praised its painted murals and mosaic, saying it was a symbol of the city's rebuild after being bombed in 1940.

John Vickers, of Coventry City Council, said he was "very pleased" the market had won the award.

However, he added: "I'm hopeful that the listing will not in the end stand in the way of the regeneration.

"That will proceed and we will end up with a nice, new market building."

Nuneaton Market also won the award for Best Market Attraction.

[rebbonk]

Beats me.

The market has gone right down the pan to what it used to be. All it seems to be now is cheap, tatty, second hand goods.

I remember the days when you had to wait years to get a stall, I bet that's not the case now.