ONE fifth of retailers are considering quitting Burnley town centre because there aren't enough customers, a shock survey has revealed.

The retail study, which cost Burnley Council £26,000, also found that a quarter of businesses said trade had declined significantly over the last five years.

Nearly two-thirds of market traders said their trade had declined significantly and they were "extremely negative" about trading conditions.

Shops and market traders said their main concern was car parking, with more than half of the retailers describing the provision as either poor or very poor.

On the positive side, 56 per cent of businesses said trade had improved slightly or significantly and most shoppers' perception was positive, although they felt there was a need for more big name stores and a need to improve cleanliness and car parking. Rita Walsh, secretary of Burnley and District Chamber of Trade, said: "I think some of the findings are very disturbing. It justifies some of the things the chamber of trade has been saying for years.

"The shopping centre is a reasonable standard and the latest refurbishment has improved it no end.

"But the secondary and tertiary areas of Burnley centre are a disgrace and as we don't have a major store, and it doesn't look like we are going to get one, I think we have got to concentrate on improving the mixture of individual and interesting shops to act as a pull."

Mrs Walsh called for the town hall car park to be opened up on weekdays for shoppers instead of civil servants.

She also said the council should be watchful that car parking charges don't lead to the town pricing itself out of the market place.

The findings will be reported to members of the planning and environment committee on Thursday.

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