THE indoor market which has been in the town centre for 30 years looks set to be shut down, threatening the stallholders livelihoods. Letchworth GC s Market Hall in Garden Square Shopping Centre is expected to close this year to make way for Argos, which

THE indoor market which has been in the town centre for 30 years looks set to be shut down, threatening the stallholders' livelihoods.

Letchworth GC's Market Hall in Garden Square Shopping Centre is expected to close this year to make way for Argos, which is relocating from Leys Avenue.

Site owner Vale Retail has confirmed a planning application has been submitted to North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC), and market traders fear redevelopment work could start as early as October.

The market currently has 11 stalls and eight stallholders.

One stallholder, who did not want to be named, said: "The market has been here for 30 years and a lot of people have been here all that time.

"We are not happy with what's going on but we knew one day it would need to be redeveloped.

"We will be given three months notice, but there's no talk of relocation. Hopefully they will let us stay for Christmas."

An angry trader, who claims his stall's owner has already been given notice, said: "I don't think they are treating us fairly. They promised us they would give us somewhere outside and then they changed their minds.

"We all want to stay but they just want us to go.

"What about the customers? There are unique shops in here and the people of Letchworth need us. If shops like ours go then the people will only have supermarkets to look to."

He added: "They haven't said anything about compensation and there isn't anywhere else to go."

Another stallholder, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We don't know anything for sure. We have not been given notice to leave. We will know at the end of June.

"We have had a meeting with Letchworth Garden City Council and they are going to try and arrange a meeting with the landlord.

"The landlord wants to start work in October, but we want to stay until Christmas."

Neil Woodward, asset manager for Vale Retail, refused to confirm Argos was the new intended tenant and also refused to confirm or deny that stallholders had not been offered compensation or alternative pitches. "I can't comment on individual cases," he said.

Town councillor Raymond Smale said: "It seems again that displacing small shopkeepers for commercial property greed is all that matters in the town centre.

"All towns need to treasure their indoor markets, particularly now with rising prices.

"If this is being foisted on the town, I hope it will be opposed by all quarters, particularly through the planning process.

"All that is necessary is more cheerful interior lighting and an open daytime frontage. Perhaps we can see why it has been run down."

David Levett, chairman of North Herts District Council's Letchworth Committee and district councillor for Letchworth South East, said: "They are getting rid of the small specialist providers who probably can't afford other premises.

"There are stalls in there that are nowhere else in Letchworth. There isn't another place selling fabric, and the fruit and veg man is the only independent one in Letchworth.

"It's going to be a shame for the traders in there.