TRADERS have claimed that Atherton will be turned into a ghost town after council chiefs were due to begin work on a controversial scheme to pedestrianise side streets in the town centre.

Shopkeepers believe the pedestrianisation project will ruin many Atherton businesses and drive shoppers away from the town centre.

They claim that Wigan Council have not listened to shopkeepers concerns, despite traders collecting over 1,000 signatures from shoppers and business owners who opposed the project.

It comes as council workmen are due to begin the second phase of pedestrianising Atherton withioin the next few weeks which would involve paving five side streets, the introduction of one-way systems, driving bans and loading restrictions.

Protest co-ordinator Jim Hewitt, of J Bargain Stores, Market Street, said: "Over the last two years the council has imposed a half-hearted pedestrianisation system on this town. As a result the town has gone backwards, shops are closing, there is a lack of customers using the town centre and there is nowhere for people to park.

"Retailers are suffering, the situation is getting worse. The pedestrianisation will turn Atherton into an island and will kill the town off. People come into the town for an hour or two to shop but they have nowhere to park, and the situation will get worse when the side streets are closed off.

"This work will crucifix my business and many others in Atherton. Many businesses are hanging on by a thread, I'm protected a bit because I run a Post Office but I'm looking out for the others on Market Street."

Placard waving shopkeepers held a protest in October last year against the plan and presented a petition to council chiefs in November.

But last week, traders received a letter which said that Atherton would be closed off for the next four weekends because re-medial work to pedestrianise the side streets would take place.

Mr Hewitt, said: "We held a demonstration last year but now people's heads are down. What can we do now? That's the attitude with shopkeepers now.

"We want the council to reconsider their plans and put some sensible parking options down Market Street for people who want to shop in Atherton."

A spokesman for Wigan Council's Engineering Services Department, said: "There has been extensive consultation regarding the improvements to Atherton Town Centre with residents and traders.

"There has also been consultation regarding the next phase. Representatives from the council's Engineering Services Department have attended meetings with the town centre traders.

"This project is part of Wigan Council's commitment to road safety and reducing accidents in our borough.

"The schemes have been approved by the council's Cabinet, the borough's Traffic Management Unit and have also been scrutinised by the emergency services.

"It is not the council's intention to make life harder for the traders of Atherton but to support them by making the town centre safer for the very people who visit the shops through the introduction of pedestrian areas.

"There is some remedial work currently under way concerning some of the improvements that have already been made and residents and traders have been made aware of this.

"The second phase of the improvements are expected to begin in the near future and full details will be published at the time."