AN open-air market bid that could threaten Earlestown Market has been labelled as 'misguided'.
Councillor John Fletcher, executive member for urban regeneration at St Helens Council, slammed plans for a survey to see if people want an outdoor market back in St Helens.
He branded the bid, part of St Helens Town centre's major £6million redevelopment plans, as 'misguided and a threat to existing trade'.
He said: "We already have an excellent six-day indoor St Mary's Market and there are a growing number of specialist markets now being held in the town centre throughout the year which we hope to extend upon.
"No discussions have taken place with market traders and staff about the practicality of holding an additional weekly market and there has been no consideration of the impact it would have on existing markets, in particular, the Earlestown Monday market which could lose traders to a rival St Helens market."
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