PLANS for a £10 million regeneration of Farnworth town centre have prompted a mixed response from traders and shoppers.

The blueprint drawn up by developer St Modwen for a shopping parade at the Market Precinct will be put before Bolton Council next month.

The new development between Brackley Street and King Street will boast six new stores covering 23,000 sq ft and a first-floor gym.

But traders and shoppers on Farnworth’s indoor and outdoor markets are now fearing the loss of individual, independent traders to bigger chains �— a mistake, they say, which was made in neighbouring Bolton town centre when the Market Place was redeveloped.

Julie Holt runs The Smoke Shack and has just built a Santa’s grotto in the indoor market.

“They say they are going to do all these things, and in the past nothing has happened,” she said. “To be honest, I’ll believe it when I see it."

Stephen Rawcliffe has been running his family fruit and vegetables stall on the outdoor market for decades.

“It won’t do me any good,” he said. “They’ll be getting rid of us. There are already too many chain stores here and it looks like there will be more and we’ll get kicked out of the place.”

His sentiments were echoed by shoppers Mrs Carol Oakes and her husband Derek.

“We don’t need fancy stuff here,” she said. “We come from Bolton to shop here because we prefer the variety and the individuality of Farnworth.

“They made the mistake in Bolton of losing all that and that’s why we come to Farnworth.”

However, Mrs Glenda Fletcher, who visits Farnworth from her home in Radcliffe, said: “You can tell by looking at the place it needs money spending on it.

“Yes it’s a great market and they are really good people, but it would benefit from refurbishment.”

Susan Sherry who runs a stall for smokers with her sister Julie Hibbert said they were worried about how much the new development would affect small traders.

“There are already too many supermarkets,” said Mrs Sherry.

Owners of the outdoor market cafe, Tracey and Paul Myatt also lamented the demise of the market.

“They’re not providing anything for us,” said Mrs Myatt. “We’ve had the cafe for eight years, but if the plans go ahead, we’ll be thrown out.”