TRADERS and council bosses are at loggerheads over the £200,000 transformation of Earlestown Market.

After three months of development work by St Helens Council, stall owners claim the results are a mess.

Speaking on behalf of traders at last Wednesday's community forum meeting, councillors and forum members branded the market's new look 'a disgraceful mess of shoddy workmanship'.

The comments follow complaints from people in the town over lack of disabled access, flooding and congestion of trading vehicles.

David Smith, senior steward at Earlestown United Reform Church, said: "There does not seem to have been any discussion by the council with traders.

"As a result, the square looks a mess and is in a worse condition than before works began."

Julie Calland, business representative at the forum, said: "The council have made it doubly worse.

"Now it's a circus of vehicles trying to load and unload goods because of newly installed bollards preventing them getting on the square. While people in prams and wheelchairs are finding it tremendously difficult to shop here."

However, council officers defended the refurbishment at the recent meeting, claiming the finishing touches were yet to be made.

Stephen Tracey, lead officer for Newton and Earlestown Forum, said: "I admit there are still issues with the market including access for disabled shoppers.

"This is partly due to bad workmanship and the contractor will be expected to put this right.

"However, the work has not been completed and it would be wrong to judge the square on its current state."

The last edition of the Newton and Golborne Guardian reported the refurbishment had been a success, with a council spokesman stating that it was "business as usual following a £200,000 makeover".

Yet this week, a council spokesman said: "There are still some minor issues but disabled access is not one of them.

"It is now complete and we have received congratulations from some organisations in Newton."