Two major private companies want to take over the site of Bradford's historic Rawson Market for shopping.

But today stallholders, who have waited in a temporary hall nearby for two years for the old building to be refurbished, warned that a major retail development on the city centre site could spell the market's death knell.

They also fear a move to the private sector could be disastrous - with high rents which they could not afford.

The market has been in public ownership since Bradford Corporation took over land, including the market site, on a 999-year lease from the Rawson family in 1866 using an Act of Parliament.

The main market building has been almost demolished by the Council in preparation for a long-delayed redevelopment scheme.

Today Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood confirmed meetings were taking place with two big companies which he said he was unable to name.

It is understood both already have multi-million pound operations in the district and want the site for shopping.

Coun Greenwood said: "We would look to securing the position of tenants and that they had appropriate arrangements."

He declined to elaborate on what the arrangements may be but said talks would be held with the market traders.

Coun Greenwood said: "We are looking to replace the market and would hope that redevelopment would include a market."

But Rawson trader Valerie Chivers said the site was limited and a takeover by the private sector could mean the end of the traditional market.

"It is something I would be very concerned about," he said.

The chairman of Rawson Market Tenants Association John Parker said: "We know of only one other private market, in Harrogate, and that is a disaster. Nobody can afford to stay in it."

And Rawson Market butcher David Holland said: "We would be worried about rents because we are only small businesses. We just want to get back down there to the main market. But the Council owes it to us to look after us."

Another butcher Donald Pickup said: "We would welcome it if the Council retained a section of the centre under its own ownership and management to protect our rents.

"But I think the whole thing could be the end of this market."

The stallholders are still reeling from the news last week that the sale of the city's Vicar Lane car park to a leisure developer appears to have fallen through.

The hard-up Council had depended on the £6 million proceeds from the sale for the market redevelopment.

Now it is having to look at different options to get the long-delayed market scheme off the ground.

In the meantime Rawson stallholders say their takings have plummeted because the £1.2 million temporary building lacks passing trade.

The Council is losing thousands of pounds in rent because it is allowing the Rawson tenants and stallholders in St James fish market, to have their pitches rent free in view of their problem.

Councillor Greenwood said: "We are looking at options for redeveloping it and maximising it. We want what is best for the whole district."

The Council has been told funding for the giant Vicar Lane leisure scheme by developers Finnegans has fallen through. But Coun Greenwood says he is confident a development will go ahead on Vicar Lane and there are other interested parties.

History of the market

1866 land including Rawson Market site acquired by Bradford Corporation from Miss Rawson on a 999-year lease

1875 bottom part of the market completed

1905 top section completed

1940 Rawson Market building bombed

1950s market rebuilt

March 1996 traders move to temporary market nearby to clear the way for £6 million refurbish

December 1998 work on main contract has still not started and Bradford Council faces funding problems.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.