LEIGH'S new outdoor market has been declared a disaster by traders -- after just two months at the Albion Street site.

They claim that business has been so bad since they were moved to make way for an extension to the Spinning Gate centre that no one will be standing in winter unless action is taken to improve conditions.

They allege newcomers are walking onto the prime pitches and that too many are being allowed to sell the same goods.

But the council has appealed for them to give it a chance.

The traders, who are this week paying full rents after an eight week loyalty compensation package ran out, are calling for an extension of the lower rates in order to stay in business.

Traders' spokesman, Maureen Maloney, said: "The move here has been a disaster. "After the horrors of Gas Street we were looking forward to the new stalls in a busy street, but though there is a heavy footfall here people are just passing through. They don't look at the stalls.

"The loading and unloading situation is dreadful. If it is raining we get drenched and are freezing all day and the site is like a wind tunnel. Some traders have already had to take other jobs to survive, and others have left, even those who stayed loyal on the temporary site. Stalls are now empty which says nothing for a new market."

Plants and garden sundries stallholder, Kevin Storey, said: "I started on the car park in February to support the struggling traders and managed to build up a little trade.

"Business here has gone down week by week and if we don't get concessions I'll have to drop a stall because I'm not taking enough. Come winter there won't be a stallholder here."

Mrs Mohammed Eunis said she and her husband had lost so much as a result of the moves they thought the new market would help them make up last year's losses, but that has not been the case.

"Casuals are coming selling the same things and getting the prime pitches at the ends. There is so much unfairness."

A council spokesman said: "We are sorry the traders have made this judgement so early on.

"Without a doubt they are in a better position than they were before, there are many more people passing. But we can't make them look.

"As far as casuals are concerned we cannot refuse someone the right to trade in what they wish.

"As far as the wind is concerned we are looking at a form of windbreak.

"We are always open to discuss the traders' concerns, but we ask them to give it more of a chance than they have." They allege newcomers are walking onto the prime pitches and that too many are being allowed to sell the same goods. But the council has appealed for them to give it a chance.

The traders, who are this week paying full rents after an eight week loyalty compensation package ran out, are calling for an extension of the lower rates in order to stay in business.

Traders' spokesman, Maureen Maloney, said: "The move here has been a disaster. "After the horrors of Gas Street we were looking forward to the new stalls in a busy street, but though there is a heavy footfall here people are just passing through. They don't look at the stalls.

"The loading and unloading situation is dreadful. If it is raining we get drenched and are freezing all day and the site is like a wind tunnel. Some traders have already had to take other jobs to survive, and others have left, even those who stayed loyal on the temporary site. Stalls are now empty which says nothing for a new market." Plants and garden sundries stallholder, Kevin Storey, said: "I started on the car park in February to support the struggling traders and managed to build up a little trade.

"Business here has gone down week by week and if we don't get concessions I'll have to drop a stall because I'm not taking enough. Come winter there won't be a stallholder here."

Mrs Mohammed Eunis said she and her husband had lost so much as a result of the moves they thought the new market would help them make up last year's losses, but that has not been the case.

"Casuals are coming selling the same things and getting the prime pitches at the ends. There is so much unfairness."

A council spokesman said: "We are sorry the traders have made this judgement so early on.

"Without a doubt they are in a better position than they were before, there are many more people passing. But we can't make them look.

"As far as casuals are concerned we cannot refuse someone the right to trade in what they wish.

"As far as the wind is concerned we are looking at a form of windbreak.

"We are always open to discuss the traders' concerns, but we ask them to give it more of a chance than they have."