OUTDOOR market traders have made a scathing attack on draft plans for a proposed multi-million pound development of Accrington town centre.

None of the outside traders want the £7million complex to go ahead and are in favour of refurbishing the current market.

The scheme involves building a large Wilkinsons store and between six to 10 shops on the current outdoor market in Broadway.

The plans would involve the open market being moved to land around the market hall where the bus station used to be.

A Lancashire Evening Telegraph phone poll set up to help decide the future of the complex revealed that more than 80 per cent of readers are opposed to it.

Only 35 voters were in favour with 155 saying they did not support the proposals.

Market trader representative Greg Jopson, who has a bacon and cooked meats stall, outlined their objections to the plans. He said:

There would not be enough space for storage and not enough space around the stalls for the customers to walk through the market safely.

There are not enough provisions for traders to load and unload their vehicles and that there were safety fears regarding pollution from the bus station at Peel Street.

The security of some of the units would be compromised and open to vandalism because they would not be covered by CCTV.

That access to the market from Broadway would be insufficient.

There was a fear that a Wilkinsons store will hit market traders and other traders in the town.

Mr Jopson said: "The outside market traders do not want this scheme to go ahead with the proposed plans.

"It is not that we are against change but we would prefer a refurbishment of the market where we are.

"It is not the right plan and does not benefit the market traders and a lot of other traders."

A final decision on whether the scheme will go ahead will be taken at a full council meeting on March 7.

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