ANGRY traders have accused the council of "fixing something which isn't broken" in trying to move Ramsbottom's popular car boot sale and market 100 yards.

Council officers have outlined proposals to move Sunday's market from its present site on Railway Street and the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) car park to the site of the Saturday market, on the car park opposite Kwik Save and Co-op supermarkets.

They claim this is in response to a number of concerns from town centre traders, residents, ELR and emergency services. Complaints include cars parking on double yellow lines and obstructing emergency vehicles, people parking in disabled bays, the appearance of the market and lack of parking for ELR visitors.

But traders who attended last week's Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor area board meeting reacted angrily to news that the market should be relocated.

Bill Jackson, who runs Jacko's Jackets on the day of the Sunday market, said: "Why repair something which is not broken? Why move it when it is a success?"

He added: "People come to the car boot then walk up the street to other shops. The Sunday markets became more successful once the car boot market started. They work together."

But Elaine Powell, town centres co-ordinator, said: "I have had a lot of people say that the car boot should disappear and be replaced with a crafts market."

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Jackson said: "There would not be enough room to move the market and car boot sale to the other site. It would only increase the parking problems and congestion, which is being used as an excuse to move it in the first place."

Mr Jackson said that it was "snobbery" rather than parking problems behind the relocation proposals.

"To move the market would kill trade in Ramsbottom on a Sunday; the markets would be out of sight and people travelling through would not see them and stop as they do now.

"The car boot market has been a success for at least ten years, so why fix something which isn't broken? Car boot sales are very popular and people love looking for a bargain. There are people who do not like the car boot market for reasons of snobbery.

"There is a good atmosphere on the day and it is more popular than Ramsbottom's Saturday market, which makes a loss."

He dismissed claims that emergency vehicles had difficulty with access.

"If there is a problem with parking and access then why not let the NCP wardens do their job and sort it out?" he said.

In response to claims that the car boot sale was taking over parking for ELR events, Mr Jackson said that the car boot market was suspended when the railway staged big events such as the War Weekend. He said the Sunday market encouraged visitors to use the ELR.

Others at the meeting said the car boot market should be tidied up and its appearance improved or upgraded.

Mr Jackson said: "A craft market is all well and good but such markets do not make much money and it will disappear after a while."

Mrs Powell said that the views expressed at the area board would be taken to Bury Council's executive committee which would make a final decision on whether the market should be relocated.