I AM a trader on St Mary's Market and I would like your readers to know about the upset, and expense that our council has put us traders to.

Paying market rent to the council for 20 years we were given notice to move - take it or leave it.

We were put into a cold, black car park for 12 months. In order to keep our businesses, most of us went along with this in the expectation of having a brighter future in the newly-built St Mary's market.

Our expectations were soon thwarted. We have been waiting for things to get better, but unfortunately this hasn't matured after nearly two years trading.

Our rent was more than doubled, and the public of St Helens have expressed great disappointment in the market and have voted with their feet.

St Helens Council nearly came first, but only managed to set the second highest market rent in the country. It has failed the treaders and the public alike.

Market trader (name and address supplied).

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