TRADERS accused the planning committee of "selling them down the river" after controversial plans to redevelop the Market Hall were approved.

There was an angry response from many of the 60-strong audience as the committee approved the plans by an overwhelming majority, despite the biggest objection to any plan in Bolton's history.

Alan Elliott, who runs the Kids Collection stall, said: "I'm absolutely disgusted with the decision. All the stalls which give value to money for thousands of people will be lost. Bolton is going to lose all its customers who want to shop in the Market Hall."

Muncif Adan, owner of Veranni Shoes, said: "It's a disgrace. How can they not listen to the views of nearly 80,000 people who signed a petition opposing the plans? I don't know what we are going to do now."

Alex McVey, who runs Howcroft Fine Foods, said: "Members of the planning committee have not considered the issue of parking.

"How is Bolton going to cope with a brand new shopping centre full of high street names? There will be nowhere for all these shoppers to go. I think Bolton Council has made a very big mistake."

Ian Miller, who runs Millers Bags and Luggage, said: "I don't think bringing in high street names to replace stallholders at the Market Hall is going to attract shoppers into the town.

"We will just be turning the Market Hall into another clone shopping mall. It's a sad day for all the traders."

Peter Hardcastle, secretary of the Market Hall traders Association, accused councillors of arriving at the meeting with their minds already made up.

He said: "I cannot believe they have just ignored this enormous response from the public. They have sold us down the river."

But Michael Stevens, operations director of Warner Estate Holdings, which manages the Market Hall, was delighted.

He said: "We have worked tirelessly to address the issues raised by the council and to accommodate the needs of the tenants in the Market Hall. We can now conclude our talks with the traders and finalise our plans for the new scheme."

Agora's Jason Barnsdale said the company would continue to talk to traders about involving them in their plans.

Countdown to controversial decision:

Bolton's Market Hall was built 150 years ago when progressive councillors wanted to house market stalls under one roof. The Victorian enterprise had its official opening on December 19, 1855.

Ambitious plans to revamp the Market Hall and convert it into a ultra-modern mall full of big name shops was submitted to Bolton Council last August by Agora. Up to 70 market stall holders were left fearing for their futures.

A campaign to save Bolton's Market Hall from being revamped was launched. In less than one month, 30,000 supporters had objected to the plans and there was support from Radio One DJ Sara Cox and Wanderers star Jay Jay Okocha.

By October, 50,000 people had signed a petition which opposed the proposed revamp.

Bolton Council's planning committee deferred a decision on the scheme in October to see if both parties could come to a compromise.

Stallholders rejected a compromise offer from Agora in December. Representatives from Agora offered double the number of units which were in the original plan for stallholders to 25.

Computer images of how Bolton's revamped Market Hall could look were unveiled last month. Shoppers crowded round a large TV screen inside the Market Place which showed a computer generated tour of how the scheme would look.

The scheme was overwhelmingly given the go-ahead .