TRADERS have voiced their concerns about the disruption that repairs to the paving stones on Clitheroe Market is causing shoppers.

Access to the market from Station Road has been blocked off while flagstones, described as unsafe, on that side of the market are removed.

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Other repairs are taking place near the New Market Street entrance and the circular section of the market.

Traders said despite knowing the work has been scheduled for some time, it being started on a market day has affected businesses and deterred shoppers.

Stallholder and Nelson councillor Eileen Ansar said the market manager was not aware that the work was taking place yesterday.

She said: “It is just a joke. They have blocked off the main archway and dug several holes around the site. No-one had informed us what was going to happen beforehand.

“The flags have been like this for 18 months so why they decided to do this on a market day no-one knows.

“Many of the traders, including myself, believe that the way the work was carried out could have been handled better.

“The workers came yesterday at 9am and dug up the flags, then said they were coming back today. Common sense says that the workers could have come on a Wednesday when the market is not open and done it all at once. Businesses have struggled with the car-park entrance, as a lot of the traders transport goods and equipment through that way and the restoration has caused disruption.”

Plans to transform the 900-year-old market into a 60-bed hotel and restaurant were unveiled last month as part of an £8 million redevelopment scheme.

Maria Earith, who has owned a unit since 1995, said: “I am not pleased with what is happening. We have customers who ask us what is going on and if we do not know it makes them worried about the market.”

A Ribble Valley Borough Council spokesman said all traders affected by the work would not be charged rent for yesterday. He said: “The market’s traders were made aware, before Christmas, of the flag repairs. All the traders on the market will not be charged for Tuesday while the repairs were carried out.”