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Angry traders are due to face off with council chiefs over plans to make Newcastle’s Christmas market bigger than ever before.

Since the prospect of expanding this year’s festive markets along Northumberland Street and Blackett Street was announced earlier this year, street traders and stallholders in the historic Grainger Market have warned that it could deal a fatal blow to their businesses.

Newcastle City Council is now inviting local retailers to share their fears at a meeting next Tuesday - but many fear that it is too late to make a difference.

Veteran trader Albert Sayers, well-known for his fruit and veg stall in Northumberland Street , said: “This market is going to have an effect on all of us traders and the Grainger Market - our business has suffered before and there is no reason to think it will not suffer again this year.

“The ‘consultation’ is complete and utter rubbish. The decisions have been made months ago about what they are doing to our streets and how it is going to be conducted.

“This should have been done a lot earlier. Whatever our views are now, they don’t really matter. The die is cast, the deal is done.”

Ian Clarkin, of the mmm...and glug artisan food and drink shop in Grainger Street , said that both local firms and national chains fear the damaging impact of the Christmas market being “parachuted in”.

He added: “It has a bottleneck effect on the city centre and it puts a lot of people off coming.”

Nottingham-based Mellors Group Events will be taking over the running of the markets for the next five years, and their plans include a bar at Grey's Monument, several fairground rides, and a toboggan run down Blackett Street.

Should the plans be approved, the market is expected to run from mid-November until Christmas Eve.

A council spokesperson said: “Mellor Group Events has now submitted their planning application for the new Christmas markets in Newcastle and we have entered the statutory consultation period.

"It is only during this statutory consultation period , which will run until at least September 27, that comments on these plans can be formally made and considered.

“Both the council and NE1 has already carried out varied engagement with traders and retailers to make them aware of the plans and the important role they have to play in realising Newcastle’s ambitions for Christmas.

“The council and NE1 have arranged a meeting on Tuesday, September 17 with city centre traders and retailers in NE1s’ business improvement district to give them an opportunity to discuss these plans in more detail and answer any questions.

"All views made during the consultation period will be collated and carefully considered before any decision is taken in line with the normal planning process.”

The meeting is being held at the City Library from 5.45pm on Tuesday.