Oswestry’s ailing outdoor market is to move into one of the main shopping streets in a bid to secure its future.

The town council is to spend more than £10,000 buying special stalls for the dozen traders who will move from the market’s Bailey Head and Horsemarket.

It would move the stallholders into a “street market” rather than being contained in the square.

Councillors hope the move will bring more shoppers to the Wednesday market and lead them up to the indoor, Powis Hall market.

Wednesday night’s decision by the markets and car parks committee came despite fears from some shopkeepers in Bailey Street that the stalls would block the view of their stores and stop people from shopping in them.

But councillors said the town had no choice, if the market was to survive.

Consultation with businesses over the proposed move showed most shopkeepers in Bailey Street were worried that stalls next to their frontages would have a detrimental affect on their trade.

Comments included: “It would block my shop and damage my business” and “It would be a nightmare”.

Most said they wanted the markets to survive but they didn’t want the stalls outside their shops.

But Councillor Keith Barrow said: “This market is in terminal decline, make no bones about it, it is dying. I am among those Oswestry people who do not like change but unless we do this in a few years time we will not have a market.

“This should increase the footfall of people using the market and will also bring shoppers back to Oswestry which can only be good for the stores as well.”

Councillor Betty Gull said Bailey Street had been buzzing when the continental market came to Oswestry and Councillor Heather Bickerton said it was a golden opportunity for shopkeepers to benefit from the increased footfall.

The market has seen the number of traders plummet, from around 100 in 1990 to just 32 a week last year and 27 this year.

The town council hopes more stalls will move away from the Horsemarket area behind the Powis Hall, freeing up more car parking spaces on a Wednesday.

By Sue Austin