BLACKBURN market traders have hit back at a councillor’s claims that many of their businesses are only fit for a car boot sale.

And the stallholders backed the results of a Lancashire Telegraph survey which found that more than half of them were planning to snub the town’s new multi-million-pound market.

Chris Appleby, Blackburn’s chairman of the National Market Traders Federation, said councillor Alan Cottam had “outraged” his members with “ill-considered” comments.

The row came after a Lanca-shire Telegraph survey last week found that 47 out of 84 stallholders said they were not going to move to the £5million market in Church Street, with just 26 backing the plans.

Traders who said they were to leave town cited the 40 per cent hike in rent for the new 120-plot market and the fact they had to take up a six-day pitch on a five-year lease.

But Coun Cottam, who is in charge of regeneration, said the council was not interested in retaining some traders who were “better suited to a car boot sale”.

He also disputed the results of the Lancashire Telegraph survey saying: “You believe what they tell you, and we’ll believe what they tell us.”

But Mr Appleby said: “I would like to confirm that the findings of the Telegraph’s survey of trader intentions as regards the new Blackburn Market is an accurate reflection of the present situation.

“Councillor Cottam’s suggestion that traders tell the council one thing and the Lancashire Telegraph another is totally inaccurate.

“It is much closer to the truth to state that both the councillor and his officers simply refuse to accept the present reality and continue their pre-determined path, hoping that through some good fortune all will be well in the future.

“No-one should expect traders to commit financial suicide just because the council say that the deal on offer is a fair one.

“I wonder how many customers would continue shopping on the market if prices were raised by 40 to 50 per cent.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council has said that it was confident it would fill the market when it opens in a year’s time and that it would offer a balance of different stalls.

Negotiations with existing traders are due to end in the autumn with council chiefs saying they will try to entice quality stalls from across the North West to move into any remaining vacant plots.