COUNCILLORS will decide on Friday whether to allow an alternative Birkenhead market to be set up in a former Marks & Spencer.

The application by a trader in the current market has been delayed for several months.

The future of Birkenhead’s Marks and Spencer has been up for debate recently after a Birkenhead Market trader Alan Featherstone put forward plans for the space.

Traders at the market which has existed in some form since 1835 are currently looking to go their own way following a controversial decision by Wirral Council to turn a former Argos unit on Princes Pavements into the market’s new location by 2026.

Earlier this year, Marks and Spencer said it was happy to let a new Birkenhead Market be run from the premises subject to terms and conditions being agreed.

However, in September, Marks and Spencer told the Local Democracy Reporter Service it was no longer able to move forward with any sub-lease related to a market.

An M&S Spokesperson said: "We have been working hard to find an alternative occupier for the site and have been open to approaches throughout.

"We are now in advanced negotiations with a potential occupier and hope to be able to share more news shortly."

However, Mr Featherstone hasn’t withdrawn his plans despite this set back. He claimed 50 town centre businesses were positive about his plans and the idea is popular with market traders.

He told the LDRS: "As a positive businessman, I know deals aren’t finalised until they’re signed off. It’s been frustrating that the application has been delayed but I’m still hopeful that the council may yet offer genuine support to their successful and loyal tenants that constitute our community."

The application is due to be considered by councillors at a Wirral Council licensing panel meeting on Friday (October 11).

Mr Featherstone has asked for permission to operate a market between 9am and 6pm with a maximum of four food and drink stalls and around 50 stalls in total.

His application said it will provide space for all existing Birkenhead Market traders and will "aid in the regeneration of the town centre and compliment the Council’s development of an artisan or street food market at the vacant Argos site." 

The application is supported by Birkenhead’s three Green councillors as well as several members of the public.

The councillors said the proposal has "widespread if not unanimous support" among traders and Marks and Spencer offers “a better future for Birkenhead Market than the Argos option". 

This contrasts with the Argos proposal which they said “has been negatively received by the broader Birkenhead population.”

However concerns have been raised about the plans by the council’s interim director of regeneration Marcus Shaw including the “conflict of allowing a market to operate in close proximity to the existing site of Birkenhead Market” as well as Argos.

He said he was also concerned about the “risk to public safety in the use of the site” and occupancy rights.

The Argos plan is still proving unpopular with traders, with some fearing they will not be able to trade in the new Argos market as the planned trading space would be reduced to 400 square metres.

When concerns were raised about this at a recent meeting, councillor Tony Jones said the council was engaging with traders’ appetite for the new market plans.

He added: "Unlike other redevelopments of markets, the council also has ownership of a number of retail units in the area and has also sought traders’ views on whether they wish to engage with the council's agent managing the retail core area of Birkenhead with a view of trading in a retail unit."