Market traders could turn their back on Shipley if radical proposals to change the layout take place.

David Gray, chairman of Shipley Market Traders' Federation, has warned that scrapping the familiar permanent covered stalls in Market Square in favour of a linear set-up could send traders elsewhere.

But other traders have welcomed the proposals and newsagent Eric Hudson, the Shipley-based former president of Bradford Chamber of Trade, believes creating a Petticoat Lane-style market will benefit stallholders, shopkeepers and customers.

The Telegraph & Argus revealed on Tuesday how the Shipley Town Centre Develop-ment Partnership had approved the proposals in principle. The partnership will now consult traders, councillors and the public. If the scheme does proceed, it will double the number of car parking spaces in Market Square, result in two back-to-back lines of stalls running along the edge of its pedestrianised zone and create an area able to host large outdoor events.

Mr Gray, who runs a clothing stall, said: "We do need more parking but there's no reason why the existing market area couldn't be used for parking when we're not open.

"The days are gone where you take a reasonable amount of money on the markets, and if traders were asked to come and put their own stalls up I think you'd lose about 50 per cent of them. I for one would say, 'Forget Shipley, I'll go elsewhere'.''

But Derek Nicholson, who runs a sweet stall and has been trading for some 50 years, said: "I think it's a very good idea. The market wants moving and we need a bigger car park here because parking's a big problem in Shipley.''

Market Square newsagent Eric Hudson, immediate past president of Bradford Chamber of Trade and partnership vice-chairman, said the plan would help Shipley become an even more thriving town.

"I think turning it into a Petticoat Lane-type market should be excellent for the market itself because it will be easier for people to stroll from one stall to the next instead of milling around in a crowd.''

But Federation deputy chairman John Priestley, who runs a music stall, said: "I think things are fine as they are now.''

Partnership chairman Councillor John Carroll (Con, Shipley West) said they were "ruling nothing out and nothing in''.

"But if market traders did have to purchase their own stalls we'd certainly look very carefully at providing them with some form of assistance and also help with putting them up and taking them down if it was needed.''