STREET traders resisting a move to Colchester’s new High Street market – with a five-fold rent increase – have been given a stay of execution.

Colchester Council told street traders in Culver Street West they had to move to the new market on Fridays and Saturdays when it opens next month.

Anne Turrell, councillor responsible for economic development, handed a letter to the six traders on Friday, offering them more time to stay where they are.

Shahid Zaman, who runs a clothes stall, said the letter stated the traders had until September 3 to sign new contracts, instead of the original date of Saturday, March 14.

He said: “She is making out that she is trying to do us a favour.

“She has only sent this letter because we have handed in a letter of complaint to the Town Hall. Will Quince, prospective parliamentary candidate for Colchester’s Conservatives, has asked for the council to hold an emergency meeting about this.

“As for the timing of the letter, they want us to slow the campaign down and get the elections out the way so it will be old news. We want democracy in our town. This is not a solution, this is a way of buying time. This is damage limitation for the Lib Dems.”

Mr Zaman said the street traders had set an absolute deadline of Wednesday for the council to let them stay on the pitches permanently, or theywill take the matter further.

Mr Quince has written to John Elliott, Mayor of Colchester, asking for an urgent full council meeting about the issue.

Speaking about the letter written by Mrs Turrell, he said: “This is just offering them a few more months to pick up their things, or get in line.”

A petition launched by the traders ten days ago has 6,000 signatures and will be handed into the council's cabinet meeting on Wednesday, at the Town Hall, at 6pm.

Mrs Turrell said she has been working on the letter since she saw the traders last Tuesday, and had to run it past the cabinet first.