The owners of Swindon’s Tented Market have confirmed that they are in talks over a deal for the abandoned town centre eyesore.

Panther Securities Plc, which owns the market, confirmed to the Adver it is in discussions with a local businessman, Callum Forbes.

A spokesperson said they could not give more details at this time.

The Tented Market closed in 2017 and has been a scourge for shop owners nearby, who say it attracts vandalism and pigeons to the area.

The first work inside the old market in seven years was seen to be taking place last month.

Mr Forbes told the Adver on May 10 that he could have the keys "in the next two weeks".

He and business partner Mathew Gillard say they want to reopen the market and are looking for traders to sell their goods from there.

Mr Forbes said: “Nothing is set in solid yet. We would be taking over the lease of the market. We are in negotiations at the minute.

“There’s a high possibility that we would have the keys in our possession within the next few weeks.”

Mr Gillard said: “Swindon town is such a dire place and we need to do something with it to brighten it up a lot more. I think this is the way to do it.”

Mr Gillard said he would like to offer businesses without the funds to open a shop the opportunity to trade.

Panther Securities said the recent works were to prepare the space for an unspecified short to medium-term use "where we might keep it as it is and just change what we do with it". 

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The company said it still ultimately aims to redevelop the site.

When asked if the market could reopen, a spokesperson said: “It is difficult to say. We would have to explore the interest in the form that would take.”

Mr Forbes and Mr Gillard own the Railway Village Convenience Store in which it was reported he invested around £40-50,000 to open in 2023.

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At the time it was reported Mr Gillard had two other businesses: a cleaning business, and a cleaning chemicals supplier.

It is understood that one of these businesses has now stopped trading, with Mr Forbes admitting that some chemicals leftover from the company were abandoned in a driveway in Haig Close.

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On Companies House, Forbes and Gillard are also listed as the directors of The Porky Pig Food, an event catering business.

A third company, Jump Town Party Hire, a provider of amusement and recreation activities, was dissolved in January 2024.