Dawley traders claim moving their street market is ‘slaughtering’ business and have started a petition to see it moved back into the high street.
The market on Dawley High Street has been moved to Meadow Road car park in preparation for regeneration work to start in the town.
But traders claim the temporary move has caused shoppers to by-pass and Linda Murphy, owner of Polly’s Diner, has launched a town-wide petition with more than 12 pages of signatures.
“They have totally killed us here,” she said. “Some shops haven’t even bothered opening. We have been down by more than £100 and for a little coffee shop it is disastrous.
“They have slaughtered us. All the people are complaining – and this is regeneration?”
Rees Pugh, from Dawley Meats, said he reckons the market could be out of the centre for 30 weeks.
He said: “All the shops want the market back. It affects traders. There is nobody on the street as they are all going to the car park. Every shop keeper wants it back in the street. The market brings people in.”
Pat Gould, manager of The Three Cooks on Dawley High Street, said: “A lot of people are about when the market is on. It is nice to have the market to see all the people. It is a nice community event.”
Members of the Friday Market are also concerned about the move.
Val Goulty, from the fruit and vegetable stall, said: “I think we have had less people since the move.
“A lot of the elderly people come to Dawley. They get off the bus but it is too much for them to walk here. We used to get a lot of the older people but it is too much for them.”
David Crofts, from the sweet stall, said he thought the move could be detrimental.
He said: “We have noticed elderly people don’t come down here.”
Don Beasley from E&J meats, said: “They used to get off the bus but we don’t get passing trade here. It is the passing trade we are missing.”
Councillor Shaun Davies, said: “We need to do everything we can to help. We don’t want the market to disappear.”
Clive Jones, head of housing and regeneration at Telford & Wrekin Council, said the Friday market has been held for many years in the High Street and that the move is temporary.
He said: “This has been done to avoid any conflict with the major improvement and resurfacing works planned for the High Street over the next few months as part of the Borough Towns Initiative Dawley Regeneration Project.
“The council is committed to maintain its market in Dawley and in addition is actively looking to encourage its development and expansion.”