RADICAL plans to transform the face of Winsford town centre have been unveiled - but traders and councillors are sceptical. Mar Properties, the new owner of Winsford Cross Shopping Centre, wants to demolish a row of shops on Fountain Court to make way for an indoor market hall.

The facility could be open five days a week with stalls offering fresh fruit and vegetables.

Mar Properties, which bought the shopping centre from Modus in December for £50m, says moving Winsford Market to a more prominent position is vital to its ambitious £3m project to make the town the main shopping destination in Mid Cheshire.

But market traders fear the project could mean rent increases, and have raised doubts over the firm's long-term commitment to Winsford.

More than 40 stallholders packed in for a heated council meeting at Winsford's Wyvern House last Tuesday, where bosses outlined the plans, which include: nThe demolition of retail units numbers two-10 on Fountain Court, including Ladbrokes, Halifax and the British Heart Foundation charity shop. nMoving Winsford Market to a new indoor market hall open five days a week from 9am-5pm. nRedeveloping the current market site as part of the shopping centre, and possibly building a cinema. nAttracting big high street names to the expanded shopping centre. nIntroducing an open-air market on Fountain Court once a week. nRedeveloping Queens Parade with independent shops selling 'niche' products.

Developers aim to start work on the new market hall in January 2007, and say it could be completed nine months later, assuming they are given planning permission.

Neil Workman, a director at property consultant BTW Shiells which is managing the scheme on behalf of Mar Properties, said: 'We want to build a state-of-the-art, centrally-heated market facility fully integrated into Winsford Cross Shopping Centre.

'The market is very important and we see it as

one of the major selling points of the scheme - it distinguishes Winsford Cross from the plethora of shopping centres that can be seen around the UK. As a keen food shopper myself, I welcome the opportunity to see fresh food available.'

Laura McCarthy, of BTW Shiells said: 'There has been a suggestion we would increase rent

tenfold, but this isn't the plan. We have no plans to increase rent dramatically.'

But one stallholder, who asked not to be named, said: 'We're very concerned about the long-term future of the market.

'We feel it would be a lot safer in the council's hands. The council is accountable and interested in the social aspect of Winsford and, unlike Mar Properties, it isn't driven by profit.'

Meanwhile, a £130,000 pledged for the regeneration of the market by the council has been frozen in view of the proposals.

The plans will now go out for consultation.