Date Published: 05/08/2021
ARCHIVED - Historic Murcia marketplace gets 7-million cash injection
ARCHIVED ARTICLE Murcia City Council has presented to the Next Generation European funds a project to completely reform the Verónicas food market
The Department of Employment, Commerce and Markets has presented an application for seven million euros for the remodelling and restoration of the emblematic
Mercado de Abastos de Verónicas, which has now been declared a Site of Cultural Interest. The building, located on the northern bank of the Segura river and close to the Almudí Palace and the Paseo del Malecón, has fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years and the Murcia City Council has committed to rejuvenating the interior of the building.
The Department has indicated that the local traders will be fully involved in the reform; a meeting will be held in September when officials will detail all the plans and ask for input from the locals who know the historical site best.
Many of the traders who have stalls in the market have inherited them from family members who have been there since the 1914 market was built, and others say their families were trading from the previous market location for many years before that.
According to local sources, the market has long had a “half abandoned” look due to the fact that around 30 of the 70 stalls are unoccupied. Unfortunately, in the past seven years, when established stall holders have retired they have not been replaced as the costs of operating there are too high for most, but the hope is that that running costs will be reduced once the renovation is complete, enticing new traders.
Following rumours that the works would lead to an over-modernisation of the market, pushing out the established greengrocers, delis and butchers in favour of swanky bars and eateries as has happened in other parts of the country, the Council has given assurances that the current stall holders will be protected.
If the proposal is supported by European funding, the traders will propose to the City Council that the reforms be undertaken in stages so that they can still trade, or else that a square is created on the street for their stalls while the work is being completed.
Already this week the Murcia Street Cleaning Service has begun repairing the escalators and thoroughly cleaning the empty stalls, many of which are reported to be infested with cockroaches. This deep clean and disinfecting should be completed by the end of August.
The Verónicas Market is open until lunchtime every day except Sunday.
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