Portsmouth market traders welcome plans to boost trade after fears they were 'left to rot'

Portsmouth City Council will consider proposals to transform the market in Commercial Road with suggestions such as moving stalls closer to Debenhams to create a 'hub' and introducing a pop-up performance space.

Fruit and vegetable trader James Warren, whose family have run a stall in Commercial Road since 1919 has witnessed a decline in trade. The 38-year-old said: 'It's dying a slow death. The market has been sliding downhill since the supermarkets came in. It just feels like we've been left here to rot.

'I think moving could help us get more footfall there than here. There are now a lot of missing shops, there are lots of gaps. I think is we moved up it could make it more of a big hub for people to come to.

'Also we're not on the park and ride route, it drives straight past us.'

But Ray Micklefield, 69, who sells e-cigarettes believed it would be difficult to improve trade. He said: 'It won't make the slightest bit of difference because people of this town are not market shoppers. Retail shops have taken so much trade from markets.

'You hear people calling us "Del Boys." They think everything we have is cheap and nasty.

'Even six or seven years ago if you took £400 in a day that was a bad day but if you took that now you'd be doing a foxtrot down the road.'

Long-standing fruit and vegetable trader Tony Smith has worked at the market for more than 30 years. The 63-year-old said: 'I think there isn't much life left in it.

'Historically nine out of 10 people in Portsmouth would've had to come here to buy their fruit and vegetables. Now they can get it anywhere. In terms of money I was taking more money 30 years ago than I am now.'

He added: 'I would like to see us moved but whether that will generate a little bit more interest, we'll have to see. It can't do any harm.'

Commercial road sellers have been invited to a consultation session next week with the council to share ideas and feedback.

The city council's culture boss, Councillor Steve Pitt, said: 'Retail in general is struggling. What we want to do is reinvigorate the market.

'This was led by the traders. They were saying that end of the street was too narrow, they didn't get enough footfall there.

'But we're not just looking at moving them. It's a rebranding exercise. We're looking at other ideas such as a pop-up performance space.

'We need to work with them to make sure they are listened to.'

The Commercial Road market runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.