SHOPKEEPERS fighting to keep cars in the Market Place said it was time the people of Wisbech stood up against the councillors of March, Chatteris and Whittlesey to stop them raping our town. Eight of them signed a letter to the Wisbech Standard this wee

SHOPKEEPERS fighting to keep cars in the Market Place said it was "time the people of Wisbech stood up against the councillors of March, Chatteris and Whittlesey to stop them raping our town."

Eight of them signed a letter to the Wisbech Standard this week claiming that "once again the people of Wisbech have been sold down the river by Fenland District Council.

"We refer to the latest move by the moguls of March to further strip Wisbech of its identity by taking away the right for our town council to take decisions on our town."

The traders - whose letter is published in full on page three- are furious that the council's Cabinet is planning to over turn a report from its overview and scrutiny committee that would have allowed some traffic in the market place: instead council leaders say they favour an outright ban.

That proposal, exclusively revealed in last week's Standard, would have devastating consequences for their businesses.

However many readers of the Wisbech Standard support the Cabinet proposals and letters have poured into our office (see page three).

But the proposals are unpopular with traders "who are very concerned about this issue," said David Williams of G.W. Frank butchers, one of the signatories to the letter.

"We are all backing these comments 100 per cent of the way. Wisbech is a convenience town - not a shopping centre - and people don't come here to shop all day."

He added: "Customers park their vehicle on the Market Place, and simply grab what they need and go. Without the parking facilities, shoppers will spend their money elsewhere.

"And the cars aren't a danger, as people know to watch out for them. I heard in one public meeting that there have only been five minor incidents in five years."

Julian Fox, of Fox's Cards added: "Total pedestrianisation isn't going to help; I feel the current situation needs to be more controlled perhaps with a one-way system."

Mr Williams added: "I say to those who want the town centre pedestrianised that they should try and run a business in Wisbech.

"These shop traders speak to their customers' day in, day out and we all know that cars are needed on the Market Place for us to survive.