MARKET traders in Accrington said they are losing trade after the relocation of the town’s bus station and disruption from ongoing building work.

Stallholders said their livelihoods are being affected as shoppers avoid the town’s market in favour of the other town centre shops.

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Many said the relocation of the bus station to the other side of the town coupled with extensive work by Hyndburn Council to remove bus shelters from Peel Street in favour of a short stay car park was putting off visitors.

Market butcher Greg Jepson, 38, said: “It’s been devastating, now people are struggling to get to the town centre.

“It’s having such a physical effect on people, people in their 60s, 70s and 80s who have been coming here for generations can’t get here anymore.”

The latest work has moved bus shelters across town, which has led to criticism that it is making the market inaccessible to the elderly and those who may not have access to cars.

Book stall trader, Pat McLaine, 65, said: “Trade’s gone down, no one is walking around, old people don’t want to come to town. Markets are important you get real characters, it’s heartbreaking.”

Many of the market traders are keen to point out the importance the market remains to have to the area and the town.

Duncan Allton, 56, from All Fruits, said: “People get very passionate about things like this, their livelihoods are being effected.

“The market is a great place for money and service, people get very nostalgic about it.

“I’m impressed with the bus station, there just needs to be a better transition.”

Trader James Hewitt, 39, said: “A busy market can be the heart of the town, some people say markets are dying but it’s not true.

“It’s disappointing what’s going on, it’s restricting the parking and you can’t see the shops, its a real obstruction.”

Fishmonger Steve Bramwell said: “It’s just another massive mess that’s going on and they’ve angered a lot of people too.”

Councillor Clare Cleary, cabinet member for Accrington Town Centre, said she has sympathy for the plight of the market traders.

She said: “I appreciate the work has been an inconvenience. We’re trying our best and we are liaising with traders, it should only be a short term matter taking weeks.

“Some people don’t like change but we’re trying to move forward in Accrington and modernise it.”