Traders are over the moon after councillors welcomed proposals to transform a down-at-heel market into a £9 million European-style arts and crafts centre.

The scheme for Brighton's open market, which includes 56 permanent stalls, 58 arts and crafts workshops, a cafe and 26 flats, is at the heart of long-term plans to regenerate the London Road shopping area, which has been in decline since the Sixties.

Brighton and Hove city councillors yesterday agreed to give the Open Market Traders' Association a year to put forward detailed designs and a business plan for the area.

Speaking after the meeting, Paul Reynolds, spokesman for the association and owner of Market Flower Shop, said: "We're feeling very positive and encouraged by the support the council has shown. Now it's up to the traders to get together and work out some detailed plans. Not everybody knows exactly what is going on and it is important this is something we work on together.

"We want to see young people get involved because it's their future which is at stake. We're over the moon councillors have been so supportive."

He said he hoped to organise a meeting within days to discuss the next stage of the scheme.

Initial designs are being prepared by Lomax, Cassidy, Edwards, the architects behind Brighton's award-winning Jubilee library, and a more detailed master plan will be presented at a future city council meeting.

The site, owned by the council, would have 20 stalls for visiting farmers' markets and French markets and could also be used as a venue for street art and entertainment. Visitors would be able to watch crafts people at work and an emphasis would be put on selling fresh and healthy, local produce.

The plans also incorporate the London Road Co-op site, due to close in February 2007.

Councillor Simon Burgess, council leader and chairman of the policy and resources committee, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for an area, which will really benefit from such an approach."

Councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn, leader of the Conservatives, said: "This is an excellent way forward. Getting the input of the traders is a first-rate way of ensuring its success."

Green councillor Sue Paskins added: "It is wonderful to see this scheme here. I can remember when I came to Brighton in the Eighties and it was a really good place to shop. It was a magnet and it would be really wonderful to see it going back to that."

Thursday, April 20, 2006