That's Your Lot

Market operators Town and Country Markets gave letters to each trader on Friday, giving them just eight days' notice of the market's closure.

Traders claimed they should have been given at least two weeks' notice of its closure and felt they had received shabby treatment from Town and Country.

"We were told that this might close, but we would never have expected to get just one week's notice," said trader Terry Dixey.

Quality second-hand videos, fresh produce and speciality cheeses are just three of the stalls which won't be available after Saturday.

Also on offer in the market was budget stationery, tools and handbags.

And it seems hard to believe that after more than 20 years of trading, Irving Simmonds' meat counter the only independent butcher left in the town will not be trading after Saturday.

Mr Simmonds was dismayed by the short notice he had received to clear his stall from the market.

"Well, it's more than a shock, really. I have been trading here all that time. You would think the market people would have more integrity."

The letters gave no indication as to what would happen to the site once the market had gone, but made it clear that access would not be allowed after the close of trading on Saturday.

Customers were visibly upset as stallholders told them the news.

It was no secret that the market's future hung in the balance, but nobody expected its demise to be this sudden.

John and Natalie Mardles made the journey from Lancing regularly to visit Littlehampton Market because it was one of the few undercover sites left.

"We are a bit shocked, really. It's a shame it's closing because there are not that many places like this now," said Natalie.

Michael Gadd, from M and J Tools, wanted to let his customers know they would be able to find him trading at Bognor railway station on market days.

"We all knew it was going to close, but we didn't get the amount of notice we should have had," he said.

And Brian Collins from the video stall was not impressed by the letter from Town and Country.

"I think it has been very badly done and I think we have been very badly treated. We have been told it could be closing for a year.

"We are supposed to be given two weeks' notice, but, really, we have only been given a week.

"What if regular customers miss a week? They won't know where to find us, will they?"

A spokesman for Town and Country Markets said: "The market traders have actually had two weeks' notice, and traders were given notice as early as last year.

"As far as we can, we have given them opportunities to trade at other Town and Country Markets venues, so Littlehampton Market's closure should not have come as a complete surprise."