Shopkeepers in The Old Market are in agreement, sometimes the Market looks closed even when we’re open.

The Old Market has 16 shops created out of what used to be a stall-based, retail market.

On market days, Tuesdays and Fridays but also Thursday in the summer, there are stalls in the open part of the market, stalls in the car park, and tables in the covered “way” which was not partitioned into shops.

On market days, not all stalls are taken by traders and therefore, some stalls and some tables are empty.

On non-market days, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, all the stalls are empty.

However, at no time are the empty stalls removed from the Market, although all the stalls are removed from the car park. The empty stalls are left erected in the Market.

Of the shops in the Market, a number of the smaller shops close early on the days that they do open. One closes between 3.30pm and 4.00pm. Four do not open on Wednesdays; one does not open on Thursdays and one opens only occasionally.

The shopkeepers in the Market who were interviewed, believe that the empty stalls and closed shops put off visitors and reduce trade.

Tim Lock who runs the Market Cafe, a large cafe with inside and outdoor seating, on the left of the main entrance, said: “The empty stalls definitely put them off. I’ve seen that.

They come in, see the empty stalls and turnaround and leave.

“On non market days, if they come in and turn left, the shops there, are closed. What happens then is, they take a look and go back out again. The shops need to open as well.

“We also need something to get them down the street to the Market. Those fluttering flags would work, just something moving to catch the eye of people who come down.”

Tim was born and bred in Dartmouth. He spent some time away, working on private, luxury yachts but has returned to Dartmouth to run the Market Cafe. He is keen to help improve the appearance of the Market and ensure people know it is here.

Tim’s views were supplemented by Prana Simon, who runs Best of Heath, a small unit on the left of the Market, selling health foods: “It would be great to have the market stalls full every market day but sadly these seem to be lean times for everyone.

“My suggestion is to take them down when unused and restore a sense of open and inviting space in the Market generally.

If that’s unacceptable, then allow shops to display their wares on the stalls whenever they are empty – market day or not – free of charge. For discouraging people from walking into the square – that’s the trade-off.”

Colette Smith, who was working in Home and Hardware, a larger corner unit on the left of the Market, said: “I used to be in the cafe, and we’ve always said that people stand in the arch and look at the empty stalls and say: “the Market is closed” and leave.”

Kevin Ward who, with his wife Rayne, runs Dart to Mouth, a deli and cafe with outdoor seating, said: “It’s not a good look. It just looks empty.

“They just walk in and walk back out again. Dartmouth Council should clear the stalls away. They clear the stalls out of the car park.

“The shops don’t help themselves. Seems they are mostly closed Mondays and Wednesdays.

“Some hanging baskets around the outside to make the Market more attractive would be good. People don’t know it’s here, they just stumble upon it.”

Mark Lobb who has the fishmongers in the far right corner said: “It might have that effect to move empty stalls but make it a food destination.

“It is never going to be a market again. They put 14 shops in and they should have made it a food destination.

“The Chronicle does not help with its offices. They shouldn’t be there – it is the main focal point of the Market. It (Chronicle offices) could be a valuable attraction, if food related.

“When it was just stalls, it wasn’t the focal point but now it is. We ought to make the Market a food haven.”

Other shop owners were not available for comment.

Tracey Rowe, Clerk to Dartmouth Town Council, said: “I am disappointed that such a negative article is being published concerning the Market and I hope that the traders realise that they all need to pull together and promote the Market rather than making adverse comments.

“The Market can be a really vibrant, busy place as was seen at the recent Music Festival.”