A TRADERS leader says Ellesmere Port Market is 'dying' due to a drop in business of up to 75%.

Stallholders say the market hall has become a 'ghost town' as hundreds of customers stay away.

Brian Hannaway, secretary of the town's Market Traders' Federation, said the lack of car parking spaces during the Asda relocation work had put off many shoppers.

And he claimed jobs will be lost and stalls closed unless the borough council agrees to a rent freeze or compensation for their losses.

Mr Hannaway, who runs a cafe and deli in the market hall, said: 'We knew there would upheaval while the Asda store is built but the majority of our businesses are being decimated. Trade at my place is down 50%.

'Myself and a lot of the regular traders have had customers telling us how they have run the gauntlet of trying to find parking spaces in town but can't carry on doing that.

'There are 30 spaces outside for cars in the mornings but various workers in town take those up. Where is there for our customers to park?

'The council has given us 20% off our rent across the board, but how is that going to help when the majority of traders have experienced a drop in customers of between 50% and 75%?

'Even on our busiest days, Mondays and Thursdays, footfall has been down about 70%. It's like a ghost town.

'Some stall-holders can't see themselves trading past February. I employ nine local people and may have to be laying people off in the next week or two.'

The market provides employment for 200-250 people, from traders to porters and cleaners. We cannot take any more of living hand-to-mouth.

'This was a thriving market, one of the busiest in the North West because we had free car parking. But now our market is dying,' said Mr Hannaway.

He called for a rent freeze or a compensation package to help traders get back on their feet.

Next August the market is due to be rehoused in the present Asda building and a new superstore built nearby.

But Mr Hannaway said: 'I fear there will not be a market here in August. We're being squeezed out.'

A borough council spokeswoman said: 'The first phase of Asda has finished so 120-130 parking spaces will be available from February 15.'

But Mr Hannaway responded: 'That won't help much. I fear people from the shops and residents will use them instead of our customers.'

Borough councillor Mike McCusker (Ind, Whitby) said: 'The market has become a ghost town. Some consideration should be shown to the traders. Local people are employed there.'