TRADERS in Trowbridge are deserting the Stones Mills site as a result of the battle between developer Tom Rothschild and the local planning authority.

All traders working from the market on the riverside floor of the building have opted to move out this week.

The main problem, they said, has been a lack of trade caused by negative publicity surrounding the site.

Brian Ottway of music shop, Sounds Interesting said: "Every week there seems to be something in the papers about Tom Rothschild and we are stuck in the middle."

Mr Ottway and his wife, Susie, are opening a new shop in Fore Street on Saturday after being in the Stone Mills complex for just a year.

Mr Rothschild has clashed with the council over various aspects of the planning application, including disabled access, and work has gone ahead at the site without planning permission.

He said: "People are moving out because of West Wiltshire District Council. Basically the council is destroying the town.

Mr Rothschild has appealed because the council failed to make a decision on the planning application within the statutory eight weeks. The plan is now due to go to a public inquiry in February.

If permission is eventually denied enforcement action could be taken against traders in the building.

Dan Ottway, of Ottway Computers, will be sharing his parents' Fore Street premises from tomorrow.

He said: "The possibility of enforcement action hasn't been a deciding factor but it has been on people's minds whether we will stay or whether we will be chucked out."

Mr Rothschild said plenty of other traders had expressed an interest in moving in to the site if the planning situation is resolved.