Refurbishment work on a Shropshire shopping centre could force businesses to close and people to lose their jobs, it was claimed today.

Shopkeepers in Madeley Mall, Telford, have been sent letters informing them they will be served with a six-month notice period if a planning application is granted to develop the centre.

Telford & Wrekin Council leased the mall for 99 years in April 2005 to developer Durward Kingsley Estates (DKE).

The developer now wishes to pump cash into the centre to create a new retail hub.

Current mall shopkeepers have warned they will have to close their stores and lay off staff because of the move.

Louise Starr, who helps out in her mother’s Pet Paradise store, said her 65-year-old mum had not got the strength to start again if the mall was shut down for redevelopment.

She said: “My mum has had the business here for 15 years. If the mall is closed for refurbishment we would have six months to get rid of all our stock and find new premises.

“But rental rates are sky high in the town and we can’t wait for the six to eight months for developers to complete the new mall.

“And even if we did, we would have to spend £10,000 to fit out a new unit, it’s just not feasible.”

Miss Starr also claimed business had fallen away since the new Tesco supermarket opened in the centre of Madeley last summer.

She said: “Even if the mall was done up and looked nice where would the new businesses come from.

“There are 15 retail units empty now, so what will change after the redevelopment? Even if the rent is reduced who would open next to the supermarket?”

Savills Telford, which manages the leases of the mall for DKE, said five stalls would be forced to move out of the mall when redevelopment work started.

These include Pets Paradise, a cobblers, a hairdressers, a café and sweet shop.

Suzi Marshall, chartered surveyor at Savills, said: “DKE is in talks with council planning officers on changing the terms of a current planning application to allow the redevelopment of the mall.

“The redevelopment of the centre would mean that shops and stores currently in located in the centre would have to move due to health and safety reasons.”

By Peter Finch