Market traders in Shipley are furious at plans to radically redesign the town centre which they say would destroy their livelihoods.

The town's iconic clock tower would be demolished and the outdoor market replaced with a market hall in the Masterplan for Airedale published last week.

The clock-tower building would be replaced by a mixed use development of shops and homes.

But indoor market traders have claimed they had not been properly consulted about the plans and said the proposals had already affected trade.

Stanley Lubbock, chairman of the Shipley Market Traders Federation, said traders feared there would be no place for them on the re-built site.

Mr Lubbock, who runs computer stall TCS Trade Warehouse, said: "We are worried about our long-term businesses because of these plans and also because in the past there have been articles saying we could shut down and it took nine months for business to pick up again because of the negative effect it had."

The plans have been put together by consultant Arup as part of a blueprint for Airedale which aims to make the area a world leader in digital communications technology by 2020.

Around 1,000 people from across Airedale were consulted at a series of meetings last year to gather views on a masterplan.

But federation secretary Adrian Hillary said traders were unaware of that.

He said: "Nobody wants to stand in the way of progress but they (Arup) are saying extensive consultations have taken place but the first we knew of the plans were when they were published in the paper."

Under the plans, a new, small town square could also accommodate outdoor public markets and other activities.

James Charlton, of James Charlton London and Associated Properties, which leases parts of the clock tower building in Kirkgate from Bradford Council, said he had not been informed about the proposals.

"These hypothetical, visionary schemes will only act to deter tenants from investing in their businesses," he said. "It's very frustrating that they are putting forward these sorts of things which look very pretty but are never going to happen."

John Fisher, spokesman for traders on the outdoor Shipley market, said: "The main objection is that there are threats again to the permanent market stall holders.

"We've run three campaigns to stop the market being closed in the past. Why is this market threatened continuously?

"I think getting rid of the town centre parking would have a disastrous effect on this market.

"And if we move the buses away will people come back into the town centre?

"This market really is an asset to Shipley."

Rosemary Smith, who runs Nets and Curtains in Kirkgate, said: "I'm absolutely devastated. If they make the indoor market building residential, people won't come into Shipley."