BIDS to delay the council’s six-day trading trial at Accrington Market Hall have been turned down.

The decision will see the market hall begin Wednesday trading next month, in spite of traders’ threats to quit.

Labour councillors had hoped to delay the trial until the end of October and set up a working group to discuss the issue further.

Their request for the group, which would have included Labour councilors and traders, has also been turned down.

Cabinet member for markets Coun Marlene Howarth said any delay was impossible.

In a written decision she responded the cabinet would agree to a meeting with Labour councillors once the three-month trial was finished.

On her decision to proceed with the trial from Wednesday, October 6, she said: “The temporary leases expire on September 30.

Legally the leases have to be signed by that date.

“The traders have had their leases for some time now so the answer is it is not possible to delay the signing any further and ample opportunity has been given already on this issue.”