PARTS of Winchester market could be moved to Middle Brook Street.

Winchester City Council have confirmed that they are in discussions to move food stalls their to create a "food quarter".

Previously Middle Brook Street was the location for Winchester Farmers' Market, which moved in 2015.

The future of the area has come up on the agenda once again after plans for Silver Hill have been pushed back by several years.

However some market traders say that they have not even heard about this plan - and one of them said that the footfall in that area when the market was previously there was a disaster.

Head of estates at the council Kevin Warren outlined that the city council are revamping Middle Brook Street.

Mr Warren: said: "The old fountain that's going we are receiving quotes today for its removal and that will start in May.

"We are certainly thinking about the possibility of moving food stalls to the market, but we have to look at the practicalities of it.

"We are also working on developing the upper space at Poundland at what used to be the old post office, the two floors upstairs were inaccessible until recently. But we have managed to adjust things to get people in there and we have a pilates group coming in and and some of it will be offices.

"We are trying to improve the environment to make sure that it is not run down and unpleasant."

Mr Warren also confirmed that the council is looking at introducing more CCTV cameras, as there had been complaints about anti-social behaviour in that area.

One food market trader, who asked not to be named but had been trading in Winchester for six years believes that moving stalls back to that area may not be a good move.

He said: "I have done this since the market was in Middle Brook Street and the market was on the verge of dying, the day we moved into the High Street everybody's taking had trebled, for the market to move would be a disaster."

Another trader, who asked not be named, said it would be a bad move as the area does not attract the same footfall as the High Street.

Previously plans to move part of the market down to the Broadway had been discussed, and these were met with some resistance from market traders.

Catherine Turness from Winchester Improvement District (BID) said that she believes if there is a food quarter it could take away the market share from restaurants for the lunchtime trade from workers in Winchester.

A spokesman for Winchester City Council said: "The city council is always looking for ways to improve the town centre for shoppers and businesses. Recent projects and investment in the King’s Walk and Casson Block areas are examples.

"The Central Winchester Regeneration project offers exciting opportunities for the future.

"The recent purchase of the bus station enables the Council to look at options for re-routing buses and improving safety. This could create options for relocating the market but it is too early to talk about proposals at this stage."

The Chronicle did not get a response from Southern Market Traders, who run Winchester Market.