OXFORD’S Covered Market is to get a £100,000 revamp following a deal to pay for repairs.

Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have announced that they will each spend £50,000 on improvements to the historic market.

It follows a new partnership agreement designed to help the market, which traders say is badly in need of improvements.

Last November, the city council agreed to pay for repairs to the 18th century market’s roof and superstructure – but the work had to be postponed because of the council’s own financial difficulties.

However, after talks with the market traders’ association, the councils have agreed to join forces to carry out the work. A detailed programme will be discussed next month.

Covered Market Traders’ Association chairman Richard Alden said: “We would first and foremost like to see a programme to clean and redecorate the market, which we see as an absolute priority.”

County council leader Keith Mitchell said: “The recession is having a negative impact on every area of life in Oxfordshire.

“Local government is no different. However, we feel we have a responsibility in these harsh economic times to help preserve important local institutions and events where we can.”

City council leader Bob Price said: “We’re delighted that the county council is willing to use some of its Business Growth funding from Government to double the £50,000 that the city had already allocated for next year’s programme of renovation.

“This reflects our common objective of protecting jobs and small businesses in this difficult period.

“We’re also working together to develop a joint management arrangement for the city centre, with a new jointly-funded city centre manager.”

The city council is also considering a three-month pilot scheme opening the market for business on Sundays.

Meanwhile a Covered Market sandwich shop owner is celebrating after Thames Water engineers repaired a drain which was leaking raw sewage over his doorstep.

Ricardo Chasebi, of Ricardo’s, suffered a loss in trade after the leak began to overflow last December.

The Oxford Mail reported on the issue on Monday, March 30, and on Friday the water company finally replaced faulty sewer pipework outside the shop.

Mr Chasebi said: “Business is picking up.

“The problem was very bad.

“If the customers saw it, they wouldn’t come in.

“It’s wonderful now it has gone.”