Market misery for Basildon traders

Some say they lost up to £2,000 each in the normally lucrative week leading up to Christmas after developers shut the Fodderwick area to cars and taxis.

Stallholders are now pinning their hopes on trade picking up in the New Year to tide them over to the spring.

Teesland, the company which is converting Fodderwick into a multi-million pound shopping centre, fenced off the road two weeks before Christmas.

Traders at the top end of the market, who claim they were affected, said they were considering seeking compensation from the company.

Grocery stall owner Steve Nowers, a father-of-two, said: "Trade has been diabolical over Christmas - we have not seen anyone. I have lost about £2,000.

"Most people buy all their stuff before Christmas and don't come back again for two or three weeks.

"I hope we will all get in touch with the Market Traders' Federation to see what we can do about compensation."

Traders were up in arms when the fences went up without warning during the busiest time of the year.

As well as closing the 400-space car park, the taxi and disabled car parking rank was sealed off, although that has now been reopened.

Traders, who pay up to £1,000 a month for their pitch, feared the move would put them out of business.

Sports stall owner John Tucker said: "You could not print what I think about this.

"All we wanted was two weeks' grace to allow us to make enough money during Christmas to tide us over to spring.

"We have had no trade, only our regulars. I've lost £2,000."

Clothes stall owner Mark Thomas, who also reckons he lost £2,000, said: "The problem is that when not many people know you are here you do not tend to get many new faces.

"We all knew this was going to happen eventually, but they did not give us any notice."

No-one from Teesland was available to comment.

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