SHOPPING giant Westfield have been given the green light to proceed with a £150 million plan to transform Bury town centre.

But many market traders are angry with the council for approving the masterplan in principle, claiming that it could destroy the "jewel in the crown" of Bury.

They claim massive public backing, supported by a 26,000-name petition, for their campaign to leave the market where it is.

However, Westfield say that moving the market nearer to Kay Gardens, and turning the bus station 90 degrees, is vital for the success of the scheme, which will also see Princess Parade demolished.

Their proposals include extending the Mill Gate centre to include a department store and new shops, a multiplex cinema, and more car parking. They say there is potential for 2,000 new jobs.

But opposition was led at Wednesday's (Dec 3) executive by Tory leader Roy Walker, who said Westfield had misjudged public opinion.

"We are not against having a Debenhams, or a cinema, or 60 new shops, or extending Marks and Spencer, or the food court," he said. "But we have to be against being blackmailed, being put over a barrel, told that if we don't move the bus station and market, nothing happens.

"We're still going through the latest bus station refurbishment, costing millions, and we've only just refurbished the market, costing millions. I cannot see the need to move so quickly. The disturbance will be horrendous. We could lose more people to Cheshire, the Trafford Centre, and other towns."

The need to progress and compete against the likes of Manchester and the Trafford Centre was spelled out by Mr Nic Deeny, development executive with Westfield.

"The pulling power of Trafford is phenomenal, and it's sucking spending out of the area including Bury," he said. "We have 40 years experience, and 120 shopping centres around the globe. We know our business. We did not come to the council lightly to suggest moving the bus station and the market. It has to be paid for, but we have convinced our advisors and financial backers that this is the way forward.

"It will be difficult for the three years it takes to build this. We don't have all the answers yet, but we have a plan which will create a much stronger centre for Bury. It cannot rely on the market alone: we are talking about a step change here. It will be fraught and difficult, but we will be working with all parties to resolve it, and be a significant player in this market place."

And Labour councillor Wayne Campbell said: "The market is the jewel in the crown. We don't want to wreck something that's so good, and brings us a good amount of money each year, but we've got to look at the future. These chances don't come often and we have to encourage them when they do."

Several market traders voiced their opposition. Mr Sean Fitzsimon wanted to defer the decision pending cast-iron guarantees about the market. He said the market would be moved away from a 600-space car park, proximity to which was a major factor in its success. He said £10 million for a new market seemed very low, and feared the disruption would drive shoppers away from Bury and they would not come back.

Mr Alan Garman brandished a large petition which had been collected in just four hours. "This shows a little bit of the anger that people are feeling right now," he said. "I feel we are an endangered species and we should be preserved. The only way to do that is to leave it the way it is: people don't want their market tampered with."

They were backed by Lib Dem councillor Tim Pickstone, who said the necessary consensus to back such a scheme was not there. "Some things you mess with at your peril, and have gone wrong in other towns," he said. "I share the traders' concern that they have not had the right answers as to how this will affect their business. It might be the end for many traders."

Coun Steve Perkins pointed out that the council had drawn flak from traders during the recent market refurbishment, but it would have gone downhill if that money had not been spent.

The executive approved Westfield's masterplan in principle, on condition that a wide range of concerns are addressed: from housing and land to the market, traffic and how the Westfield plans dovetail with the council's own "Bury But Better" vision for the town centre. Councillors Walker and Pickstone voted against the motion.

Council leader John Byrne said: "It doesn't mean that we have accepted it in totality. There are lots of assurances still to be required before we can accept it. We will not sell out anybody. We want assurances on a good deal for all in Bury."