NEWTON Abbot Town Council has swung its weight behind the market traders who want to stay on the ground floor as part of a £4.5m development of the Market Walk precinct

In an often passionate debate at the council's monthly meeting on Wednesday evening Cllr Mike Chope warned that the town 'was in danger of bleeding to death,' as a result of the development.

'The traders are the lifeblood of the town. they should be treated as such,' he said.

At the moment the scheme proposed to tuck the traders away somewhere 'as if the town was ashamed of them,' said Cllr Chope.

Cllr Ken Lewis, who took part in a fact-finding trip to a first-floor market at Merthyr Tydfil and an underground one at Trowbridge – both developed by Halladale Developments Ltd, owners of Market Walk – said councillors had changed their minds and now supported the traders.

There was 'nothing more grotty' in Newton Abbot than the entrance to the market from the bus station.

Walking past smelly toilets to a fruit and vegetable market 'put you off before you started,' he said. 'Thank goodness they're going to go.'

The council had asked Teignbridge Council for extra time to consider its reaction to the development proposals – the original deadline was June 17 – and when it came, it was unanimous.

Two proposals put forward by Cllr David Howe, were adopted. Firstly, 'in the light of information gained following an information gathering visit, the council does not favour the re-location of the market traders to the first-floor level.'

Secondly: 'The council recognises that doing nothing in the market area is not an option. Further negotiations between Teignbridge Council and the developers should continue with some urgency, taking into consideration the views of the Chamber of Trade and the market traders.'

Cllr Mike Hocking, the mayor, said that he had received a number of letters urging him to get off the fence and support the market traders. 'The debate today has done it,' he said.

'We lost a lot when the market was re-developed. Let's not lose the little bit we've got left.'

Cllr John Radford said members should remember whose town it was. 'We have to put ourselves before the developers. We have to make a stand here or it will be the end of Newton Abbot and it will just look like anywhere else.'

John Adcock, chairman of the Market Traders Association, warned members that in two or two-and-a-half- years' time there wouldn't be a market if something wasn't done.

Most people using it were aged between 60 and 80. They were dying off and the youngsters who wanted somewhere clean and bright weren't coming in.

Cllr Reg Wills said that while he agreed with the sentiments expressed, a final decision would be ruled by economics.

Even if the market was refurbished he didn't think it would draw new shoppers in.

Cllr Henry Cole – and other members – suggested that the store planned for the butter market could be put on the first floor. Cllr Allan Vizor said: 'Let the big stores go upstairs. Leave the market where it is.'