Market traders in Oswestry have hit out at plans to axe stalls from a main shopping street. Town council members have agreed to cut short a trial which saw stalls placed along Bailey Street.

The idea, over the last 18 months, has been to link the market in Bailey Head with the town centre.

It follows low usage and complaints from some traders and retailers.

Dave Preston, Oswestry town clerk, said the council had a licensing agreement with Oswestry Borough Council for 10 stalls but only five stalls were being set up.

Following a request to the borough council to renegotiate the rent, they were told it would have to be considered by the new Shropshire unitary authority. The town council could, however, terminate the agreement before January 31.

But Jim Marsden, from Llanymynech, who sells towels in Bailey Street, has hit out at both Oswestry Borough Council and Oswestry Town Council for failing to sort out an agreement over rent, particularly “in the midst of a full recession”.

He said: “There has been no consultation whatsoever, it’s a disgrace.”

Traders were yesterday issued with notices saying it was their last day of trading on Bailey Street and stalls would be relocated to Bailey Head or Horsemarket.

Trader Gareth Dodd, from St Martins, said: “Everyone has done well down here. We used to be round the back but packed it in because we couldn’t make it pay.”

The notice from Oswestry Town Council said: “Unfortunately provision of this service was found to be cost prohibitive and therefore the decision has been taken to terminate the trial.”