TROON shop owners are concerned the new street market is taking away customers from their businesses.

The event is held on the fourth Saturday of the month near the concert hall when thousands flock to the town to look around the various stalls.

The aim is to promote local business and bring tourism to the town.

But local businessmen are concerned that they can’t compete and are losing customers as a result.

Gary Harris, of The Artisan Deli, said: “I was here first with my business. People at the stalls are selling the same produce as me, for example cheese and olives.

“Once people have been to the market they come into the town but they don’t come to my store to buy the same things.

“They’ll go somewhere which sells a product which is not available on the market.

“I was not told about the market until March, until I saw a post about it on Facebook, and I became concerned. What it means is there is a conflict between the stall holders and the local business owners.

“The town is not as busy as it was before this started - it is dead.

“People do not come to the shops and I am not the only person who feels this way.

“Someone asked me why I did not say anything about this before - I am not on a witch hunt. I had raised some concerns but these don’t seem to have been taken on board.

“We were going to become members of the Troon Business Association but I think that would be hypocritical now.

“Someone will come to the market and visit the shoe shop in the town - not a deli or a butcher.

“I am not the only one who is concerned. I was told the market would not sell the same produce as me but that was not true. It is affecting our shop - our takings are down.

“We still have our loyal customers coming in but we need
more.”