ANXIOUS traders have spoken of their fears for the future after the announcement that historic Wimborne Market will close at its current site after 165 years of trading.

They claim it will “kill off” the town and are worried that a proposed new market site on the outskirts of the town is unsuitable and “will never happen.”.

Bosses are blaming “excessively high business rates” and “changing shopping habits” for the closure, which will happen later this year.

They have proposed a move to a field at Lake Gates, offering a new country market and Roman camp heritage centre.

Shocked traders received letters “out of the blue” from operator Ensors on Friday.

The letter said: “Due to excessively high business rates and changing shopping habits, we regret to say that the Wimborne Market will cease operating from its current location later in 2020. It is financially unviable on the present site.”

It says the new site will be at Lake Gates, close to the junction with the A31 and the B3078, and said it intends to “ensure that no trading days are lost and Wimborne can continue to be a market town in the true sense of the word”.

The site is currently a field, used for occasional events such as car boot sales and visits from the circus.

The letter goes on to say that talks about the potential new site will begin with the Town Council and Dorset Council shortly and adds: “This is an opportunity to breathe new life into the town and bring alive the rich Roman history that is unknown to most residents.

“This will bring a unique atmosphere which will be of benefit to traders and customers alike and will being in new visitors to the town.”

It says architects have been instructed and that new facilities will be built and adds: “Market days will stay the same - Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.”

Traders did not want to be identified but said they are “disappointed” and “sad” about the closure.

One told the Daily Echo: “Wimborne is known for its market and this will kill off the town. It is not easy to walk to Lake Gates and I can’t imagine them being allowed to build huge indoor centres like we have here.”

Another added: “We are furious. Lots of people have been here for more than 20 years and this is our livelihood.”

Wimborne Market was founded in 1855 by Thomas Ensor, who had already established a livestock market at Dorchester. It is one of the biggest open and covered markets in the south of England and a multi-storey car park was built there in 1990 to accommodate the huge number of visitors.

Wimborne residents have taken to social media to voice their concerns about the move with many describing it as a sad day for the town.

Steve Palmer said the loss of the market will be “a tragedy for Wimborne” and added: “It’s certainly not going to breathe new life into the town - kill it off more like. As for moving it to Lake Gates, well that’s only going to make the A31 and surrounding roads even more clogged, especially in the summer.”

A manager at the market said he was unable to comment further than the letter and said the owner is currently away on holiday.