SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine – More than $6 million is being spent through the Lift Up Jamaica project to provide roofing for the ‘Grass Yard’ section of the Spanish Town market.

The work, which is expected to last three months, is scheduled to begin later this week.

As a result, the 633 vendors occupying that section of the market will be relocated to the streets to facilitate the upgrading work .

“Lift Up Jamaica has granted $6 million to roof the grass yard section of the market,” Spanish Town mayor Dr Andrew Wheatley told the Observer.

“Work will begin this week, and the ‘Grass Yard’ will be closed for between two and three months, and for that period about 600 venders will be displaced,” the mayor said.

The mayor said a number of designated streets have already been opened to accommodate the displaced vendors.

Vending has been restricted to French Street, Manchester Street and Old Market Street during week days, while Cumberland Avenue and the old coal yard will be added to the designated vending areas on Saturdays.

Wheatley was, however, quick to warn that streets around the designated areas would be closely monitored by round-the-clock police patrols to prevent vendors from occupying other streets in the old capital. He said the council would consider making other streets available, depending on the demand for space.

The mayor noted that the more than 100-year-old Spanish Town market was in need of extensive repairs, but said technical advice had suggested that it would be more practicable to build a new market.

“The council has submitted a request to the ministry of local government for $150 million to build a new market for Spanish Town. So we are awaiting their reply, and the start-up of that project depends on the availability of funds,” the mayor said, adding that the market had outgrown its usefulness.

In 2004, the council under former mayor Dr Raymoth Notice, received a grant of $4 million from the Equalisation Fund to repair the market. At that time, the entire sewer system was overhauled and new toilets and a new roof were installed. The fish and meat areas were also refurbished.

Meanwhile, Wheatley said the sewer system at the market would have to be replaced this year.