CONCERNS have been raised market traders may leave Southend completely when a market closes for three months.

Roots Hall Market in Southend, which runs weekly throughout the year, will be holding its last market on December 27 before it closes for three months, reopening on March 7.

Southend United Football Club are closing the market for three months due to concerns for customers' welfare during the poor winter weather.

A spokesman for the club said: "We have made the decision to close the Roots Hall market over the three-month period because we are concerned about the wellbeing of the customers during the likely bad weather.

“We only have five official market stall traders and even if we were to lay grit to assist customers during icy periods, there is a heightened risk that someone may slip and injure themselves.

“The safety and wellbeing of the customers and our supporters is paramount, and it is our primary concern.”

Gary Homer, 60, of North Road, who attends the market every week, fears that if traders are forced to find other options, they may not return to Roots Hall when it reopens.

He said: “Roots Hall market has been in decline now for many years with some of the stall holders now preferring Southend High Street, but it does have its regulars, myself included, so I was surprised to hear that it is closing until March.

“Many of the stallholders I spoke to this week said they had not been given a reason for the closure, they were only told very recently.

“If it is resurfacing works, it’s very surprising that it is taking them a full three months to do it.

“Some traders said they will be in Pitsea and Stratford markets instead, and this is where the worry lies.

“Obviously these people will be losing a day’s business with no market; they need to find an income stream from somewhere, and if they find one in another market on the same day, which offers them the same or better deal, they’re not going to want to come back when it eventually does reopen.”

Southend United is intending to move its stadium to a new 21,000 seater venue in Fossetts Farm in the future, and has submitted a planning application to replace Roots Hall Stadium with 469 homes.

Southend councillor Meg Davidson, whose ward includes the stadium, said the car park is in “desperate” need of resurfacing.

She said: “I know for a fact that the car park does need resurfacing, so I think that’s a good thing to be happening.

“In regards to timing, it’s a difficult situation, and if it’s something that has to happen, then I believe this could be the ideal time, there’ll be a drop off after Christmas and it will be less busy.

“I hope that Southend United will be working with the traders to go through what needs doing, but it’s a well-supported market, maybe they could do a big event when it reopens in March.”