BUSINESSWOMAN Jan Henshall has accused Dartmouth Town Council of turning its back on shopkeepers in the Old Market. She claims the town council landlord has 'got greedy' by allowing so many market stalls to operate in the square that it's proving 'unfair competition' for those small shop units who are faced with paying overheads all year round. Trade is so bad that Ms Henshall says she will closing The Gem Shop, which she has run for the last 20 years, in June. 'I've done my best to support the market and the town and have made a lot of friends,' she said. 'I will be sad to leave, but it's not providing the turnover. 'My total takings last week were just £16.80.' Ms Henshall, a Kingswear parish councillor and former chairman of the Dartmouth Chamber of Trade, said she had made up hanging baskets and planted out flowers to brighten up the market and even supplied electricity free of charge for musicians during the music festival. But still takings have dropped to such a level she cannot afford to stay. 'Now the town council is allowing extra market days where stallholders are selling items in direct competition to what is in the market shops,' she said. 'Under the terms of our leases, we are supposed to sell different things, so as not to compete with each other. 'It's not fair. We have to pay rent and rates all year round and these stallholders come in two or three days a week for a few quid and are selling gifts and jewellery, everything that we sell, but without the high overheads. 'The town council is not protecting its sitting tenants.' Jan said the last straw came when the town council asked market shopkeepers to make sure they conformed with normal opening hours, as per their written agreements. Now she has started a written blog which she posts outside her shop when she has to nip to the toilet or go across the road for milk. 'They are mistaken if they think I'm going to sit here for hours doing nothing when I've got so much else to do,' she said. 'In the winter, I didn't sell anything for a month. My turnover had dropped considerably. The summer is busier, but I certainly didn't sign up for this. 'All the other shops in the town open and close when is appropriate for their business. 'Local people have said to me what's the point of coming to Dartmouth, all you can buy is a painting or an over priced tee-shirt. While I don't necessarily agree with that, it is the image which unfortunately seems to be held by many. 'Trading for retailers has become increasingly difficult due to the recession, online sales and empty second homes. 'High ferry fares and car parking is also having an impact on the town.' The town council, which has spent thousands of pounds sprucing up the Old Market, was unable to comment at the time of going to press.