Plans to to spend £1 million revamping the current indoor market in Devizes are needed to secure its future despite it bucking the trend, the Town Clerk has said.
Devizes Town Council has launched a consultation on plans for the regeneration of The Shambles in the town centre.
The council has been working with PKA Architects for some time to develop proposals and the project has a budget of up to £1 million.
The initial plans were unveiled to residents and traders who have since been sharing their views.
One of the main ideas is to create a more “controlled and ambient” environment with underfloor heating, air source heat pumps, and new lighting being considered.
Other plans include having glass bifold doors in front of traders plots.
Town Clerk, Simon Fisher, said that "markets up and down the country are failing and Devizes market is doing really well".
"Where indoor markets have had some investment they are the ones that are doing okay. Those that aren't having an investment are going into decline," he added.
Last year the indoor market in Barnstable reopened following a £2.5m refit in a bid to restore it to it's former glory.
Malcolm Prowse, lead member for economic regeneration and planning on North Devon Council, previously told the BBC: "This market is thriving again now and it's great to see."
Mr Fisher added: "I was shocked at how it deteriorated but my understanding is they have done some work to that and it has revived it."
Mr Fisher hopes the plans for Devizes can follow suit and secure the market's future for generations to come.
Traders have since shared concerns including the underfloor heating, losing trading space, the plans being too modern and what will happen if work starts.
Mr Fisher said: "We are determined to make sure we have a really good vibrant indoor market not just for now but for the next generation.
"We want to make sure it is there for future generations, our plan is not to destroy what is good about the building we are just trying to knock off some of the things that are not good. All we are trying to do is increase footfall."
Addressing worries about the current stone floor being pulled up for the heating, he said: "It is the best heating system. We would never be allowed to take the stones away and put something different down.
"Our intention is never to replace the floor but actually we would like to make that floor good and put some underfloor heating in there at the same time."
Despite fears the designs would make the building look too modern, Mr Fisher said he disagrees, adding: "We are not planning to make it a modern building, what we are trying to do is restore some of the original history.
"We did some 3D graphics to see what it might look like and the problem is because everything is computer generated it makes everything look more modern. I think that is where some of the concerns came from. The technology didn't quite manage to put in an old fashioned floor so they copied what the system had."
Addressing concerns over the glass bifold doors, he added: "We want to make sure that when that trader is not there it doesn't look like a lockup. If you're there at the moment, when they are shut, it looks like you are in a warehouse with lockdown shutters. So we are planning to put the glass doors in to improve light and make the place look better.
If work goes ahead he said that discussions are underway to support traders.
"It is very much part of our planning. Absolutely our plan is to work with the traders, we need to look after them during the refurb process," he added.
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