STALLHOLDERS are shunning Colchester's weekend market in favour of cheaper weekday pitches elsewhere, new figures suggest.

A total of 37 traders have signed up for the market in High Street on Fridays and Saturdays since it opened in April.

Although four other traders have since joined, no more street traders have shown an interest in taking up the remaining 11 pitches.

Instead, three more chose to trade between Sundays and Thursdays in Culver Street West, where the cost of a pitch is significantly cheaper – a maximum of £20 a day.

In contrast, pitches at the High Street market can cost as much as £124 a day.

Controversy surrounded the move to the High Street, with several traders facing faced with eviction from their pitches in Culver Street West.

Faced with huge rent increases, they to relocate but successfully campaigned to stay put.

Market traders and other stallholders have different agreements with Colchester Council. The council says it is still reviewing street trading in the town.

It paid market experts Quarterbridge £7,000 to undertakeareview in 2013 and this is still under way.

The latest phase of the review includes consulting street traders, neighbouring businesses and customers.

Tim Young, councillor responsible for licensing, said: “It is extremely important residents, visitors, customers and businesses all takeacouple of minutes to complete the online survey. We want as much feedback as possible to inform our review of street trading.”

An online questionnaire can be filled in at quarterbridge .co.uk/surveycolchester until midnight on Sunday