MARKET traders in Leyland fear proposed town centre car parking charges and plans for a new supermarket could spell the end of their businesses.

Traders at the Ecroyd Street market, off Hough Lane, have started a petition against the charging plans by South Ribble Borough Council and proposals to build a Morrison's supermarket on Farington Industrial Estate nearby.

They say trade suffered after the opening of Tesco's supermarket, in Southern Towngate, four years ago, and these new plans could put the final nail in the coffin.

Rebecca Whitaker, of Whitaker's Butchers, the longest standing market business with 33 years trade, has set up the petition.

"Tesco left us reeling and we're just getting back on our feet," she said. "It will happen again if Morrison's is built because they have 'Market Street' which mimics a market and will offer free parking like Tesco.

"We could lose trade which could mean redundancies or the end of my business and even the market."

Jim Jackson, owner of Cafe LJ, added: "Lots of people come in here every day. It's a real concern if people have to pay for parking."

The council's car parking members' steering group has recommended reducing King Street parking charges to £3 a day but leaving Ecroyd Street car park at 20p per hour and 50p for up to two hours.

Allan Garstang, who works at Cafe LJ, said: "Leyland will become a ghost town. People will go to supermarkets because they offer free parking."

Councillor Fred Heyworth, chairman of the steering group, said: "The council hopes the introduction of charges will promote more shopping spaces and deter all-day parking, which is a problem in the borough. The charges are low for short stay visitors but will rise for those who park and then leave all day."

A decision on parking charges is expected to be made soon as the consultation period has now ended. No date has been set for the planning committee's decision on Morrison's.