The former boss of the illegal Tradex indoor market looks set to be granted permission to open a new Asian bazaar on a trial basis.

Mohammed Saeed is expected to be given a six-month temporary market licence for his new venture, at the former QLM building in Idle Road, Bolton, on a smaller-scale level than he had originally planned.

Last year, he was convicted of contravening a Stop Notice issued by Bradford Council against his Tradex business at Beckside Business Park in Beckside Road, Lidget Green, and billed for almost £90,000 in fines and costs at the city’s crown court.

But now the Council is preparing to grant his company, DP Franchising Ltd, permission to trial the new bazaar, despite concerns from residents about the parking problems and disruption it might cause.

A market licence is set to be issued on February 24, meaning the bazaar could be up and running before April.

The licence will then be reviewed in six months’ time, with councillors and highways officers asked for their feedback before it is renewed.

The bazaar plan is a pared-down version of the one originally planned for the building.

Whereas Mr Saeed had first wanted a total of 65 stalls over two floors, the plan is now for 35 stalls on one floor, with a maximum of 28 traders selling goods at any one time.

It will open from 11am to 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

A statement from the company setting out its highways plan says a rooftop car park will provide 36 spaces for customers, while traders will have to use 27 spaces behind the building.

A parking steward will be employed to manage the flow of cars to the rooftop and only when the car park is full will customers be directed to on-street parking.

The company statement says: “We have agreed to an initial six-month licence that will enable both us as operator and the council as licensor to regularly review the operation of the bazaar to ensure that it does not have an impact on the local community and alleviate the concerns, many we believe are unfounded.”

But ward Councillor Howard Middleton (Lib Dem, Bolton and Undercliffe) said residents still had concerns about parking.

He said the rooftop car park had always been unpopular when the building was a Morrisons supermarket as the ramp was steep and had a dog-leg bend.

He said: “The Council seems determined to grant it, but it’s not a choice I would agree with.”