PLANS for the £5m revamp of Bury Market have been slammed as "totally inadequate" by traders.

The ambitious scheme includes a new market building and a new fish and meat hall, although other aspects of the plans have been dropped as contractors were unable to do the job for the money available.

Now some stallholders say the project will not secure the market's survival into the next Millennium.

Adrian Christian, chairman of outdoor market traders BOMTA (Bury Open Market Traders Association), said: "In 12 months' time the market will look as bad as it is now. "We don't want to stop the refurbishment but we want more money putting into it.

"The market survived the recession and is trading stronger than any market we know of, but it will only survive further if it's brought up to scratch.

"It's wasting taxpayers' money if they are not doing the whole scheme.

"They will simply build a meat and fish hall and see what money is left.

"That's not doing the best for the people of Bury."

He said the matter would be discussed at the traders' annual meeting on Sunday.

No one at Bury Council was available for comment.

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