A DECISION to recommend The Rock as a site for autumn's Bury Fair has provoked anger from town centre traders.

The traditional fair, run by the Showmen's Guild, is in need of a new home following the closure of its former site at Castlecroft, with The Rock being used as a temporary site.

Traders from the street say that they have lost valuable trade during previous fairs because consumers are forced away by the disruption to parking.

At the latest meeting of Bury East Area Board, councillors gave approval to September's funfair on The Rock and its nearby car park, while a more permanent site is found. Shop owners made their feelings clear at the meeting, expressing concern about vandalism and noise as a result of the event.

The annual March fair was already due to set up at the site, but traders hoped that autumn's fair would take place elsewhere.

A final decision on the matter will be taken at a meeting of the council's executive committee next month.

Councillor Mike Connolly, chairman of the area board, said: "The board recognised the concerns of traders and that's why we added the condition that the executive find a permanent site as soon as possible."

But, according to Rock shop owner Kate Eccles from Paraphernalia, other alternatives had not been fully explored: "There were no options at the meeting other than to not have the fair, which nobody wants, or to have The Rock as a permanent site," she said. "They could have used Pyramid Park or Clarence Park.

"We respect the fact that the showmen have a living to make, but I don't think we should suffer from less trade when we're paying rent for a prime site."

Showmen's Guild chairman Tommy Green said: "We have gone to great lengths to try to please the traders and if we can do anything to put their fears to rest then we will."