The owner of Swindon’s dilapidated Tented Market has said they did not know it was vandalised but have taken steps against the pigeons.

The Panther Properties Plc spokesperson was responding to criticism about the poor state of the property to which it holds the leasehold.

The market has become a popular canvas to spraypaint since it closed in 2017 and roosting pigeons are also causing a mess, say nearby traders.

When asked if it was aware of issues with graffiti, a Panther Properties spokesperson said: “Nothing has been raised to us. 

Swindon Advertiser: Inside and outside the Tented Market as it stands today

“When things have been raised, when there’s been situations of break-ins et cetera, then obviously we have acted on that as quickly as possible.

“If people wish to raise concerns, they can. It is well known we own it, we are a public company. 

“Our details are all over the internet so it is not an issue to contact us if they are having serious concerns.”

He added: “The pigeon issue we're aware of and that's being raised as part of the works.”

Swindon Advertiser: The tented market has become a home for the birds

The building is having work done to it for the first time since it closed. These are to clear out the internal structure of the old market.

This includes ripping out the old individual market units that made up the stalls, furniture and electricals.

As part of these works, the spokesperson added that the top vents of the market have been closed off.

The vents had ‘seized open, which were allowing the pigeons to get inside’ the market, but the current works have blocked their entry.

The aim of the works is to provide a wider range of possible uses for the structure. 

Swindon Advertiser: Inside and outside the Tented Market as it stands today

The spokesperson said: “We’re looking at alternatives where we might keep it as it is and just change what we do with it but to start with we need to clear out the existing units in there to see what we're dealing with.”

He said the company is ‘very open’ to possible uses and it ‘could literally be anything’. 

The ultimate goal is still redevelopment, but before this happens, ripping out the market allows for a broader range of intermediary uses for the site.

Meanwhile, nearby traders have expressed frustration at the slow progress. One said: “I think it's a mess. It reflects badly on the town centre and the area. 

“And people don't necessarily want to come down this way because of how bad it looks.”