STRUGGLING market traders are calling on the people of Northwich to support their customer-starved businesses.

The plea comes from stallholders at the town’s indoor market, whose traders contacted the Guardian to highlight their concerns over the dramatic decline in trade.

They are appealing to the public to support the market, but also feel business could improve by easing parking restrictions in the town and cutting business rates to encourage people to take empty shop units.

The traders are also asking for the artisan market to be moved to Weaver Square to bring business down to their end of the town.

“I am concerned at how business is declining at the moment - people are not coming down at all,” said Ang Wilkins from the Beauty Box.

“It started with the road works, but now it’s the parking issues. I would say footfall is down about 50 per cent, and I’m very concerned.

“People don’t come down to this area so much because all the shops are closed.”

Terry Taylor from Northwich Home Spares has been at the market for 20 years, and is calling on business rates to be reduced for the empty shops in Weaver Square.

“When Weaver Square was buzzing so were we, but now there is nobody in the square there is nobody coming down,” he said.

“All the passing trade has gone, and we are struggling. The markets are essential in Northwich, as it is the first point where a lot of people go on to start another business.

“We need to get something going in Weaver Square – it needs sorting out. The business rates have to be reduced.

“I would ask local people to try and support the independent traders, because otherwise one day we will all be working for the supermarkets.”

Helen Cooper has had her ladies wear business, The Pink One, just over a year, but business is so bad she may pack up.

“I am very concerned, and if it doesn’t pick up I will close soon,” she said.

“The artisan market needs to come down here. Put it in Weaver Square, where there is room for it, and it would bring business to this end of the town.”

Ang Wilkins supported Helen’s call - “We are not against the artisan market, but it is all up the other end of the town and nothing at all down here.

“It would benefit us if it joined in with the normal market.”

She added that extending the free parking time would encourage more shoppers to come into town.

John Mills from John’s Guitar Emporium started at the market at the end of January, and has been taken aback by how quiet it has been.

“You don’t see anyone in here, and this part of town seems to have been forgotten about,” he said.

“Get people into the shops in Weaver Square - lower the rents and the rates - make it more attractive.”

Bob McLintock, 71, who has a china stall, is a long-standing trader.

“When I started here 20 years ago I used to make more money in one day than I do for three days here now,” he said.

“This is the first year I have really done bad, and I would ask people to come down and see what they are missing.”

Natalie Leather said business was so bad last month that she was thinking of closing her Rock Star jewellery stall.

“The Northwich BID is supporting the town this weekend with the Northwich Great Easter Egg Hunt, and the day includes activity across the whole of the town,” said Jane Hough, Business Improvement District manager.

“Activity in the market/Weaver Square area includes donkey rides, face painting, a balloon artist, entertainment from Cockney Carol and the Ageless Ukes.

“Disney’s Princess Belle will also be parading through Weaver Square and the market handing out chocolate goodies to children.”