SHOPKEEPERS say a plan to close Barnstaple pannier market overnight will make tough trading conditions even worse — and could kill off businesses.

Retailers in the Market Street area were responding to a North Devon Council proposal to request a "gating order" to block a section of the road between 6pm and 6am.

Market Street, which connects Joy Street with Butchers Row, is a right of way and cannot be lawfully obstructed overnight. Vehicle traffic is restricted between 10am and 6pm.

The district council, which owns the market, hoped to save money because of reduced repairs and security measures.

Council leader Des Brailey said an "enduring history of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the evenings" made a gating order the "only solution".

But the restaurants Zena's and Gurkha believe the closure will cost them passing custom and objected.

This week other businesses told the Journal they feared losing the benefits of a shop window.

Katrina Lang, who runs the Kitchen Carvery, said she will close her cafe at the end of the year because takings had plummeted after nearby public toilets closed.

She said the gating idea was "ridiculous" and struggling small businesses didn't need another obstacle.

"We rely on people wandering around," she said. "Including the holiday-makers. They are not going to walk down a dead end."

She feared Barnstaple was becoming a "clone town".

Gerry Fry, at the Artstore in Joy Street, has for months had the view of his business from the High Street blocked by a huge scaffold on a disused building, and he believed that obstruction had cut his trade by 50 per cent.

He was opposed to the gating order, saying it would damage the visibility of shops.

He asked if the financial viability of the pannier market could be helped in other ways, perhaps by charging tenants more, or by stopping them using expensive heaters in the open air in winter.

He hoped the pannier market could be managed so that it became more financially workable.

Terry Goodman, who owns the Colours curtains shop, said the closure was a bad idea and Zena's and the Gurkha should demand a rates reduction for the lost trade.

He said: "It's already difficult trading conditions and this would only make it worse."

He too planned to close his shop soon because takings were down.

Adam Taylor, who runs the Aluna gift shop, also opposed the gating idea.

Chris Symes, who owns Home Pine in Boutport Street, said the gating order was the wrong solution.

Mr Symes said troublemakers should be dealt with by the police and the market should be used more often in the evenings and at weekends.

He said events such as food and beer festivals were welcomed but there needed to be more regular activities.

The Journal asked the Pannier Market Traders Association for a comment but it said it needed to have a meeting before it could put together a formal response.

Mike Mansell, North Devon Council's acting chief executive, said the request for a gating order was to address concerns over a lack of security at the market.

If there was county council support there would be public consultation on the matter.