Winchester’S High Street market has come under more criticism for its impact on city retailers.

Traders raised concerns over the markets at the annual general meeting of Winchester Business Improvement District.

The market moved from Middle Brook Street to the High Street last summer and has helped increase footfall in the city.

But Stuart Simmons, owner of jewellers All That Glitters, said: “From my point of view the markets sell things I do and I do not see what advantage there is in having the stalls.

“If there is money to be spent in the High Street then surely that money should be spent in shops in general.”

Mr Simmons also said the market restricted pedestrian space in the narrow High Street at peak times.

He said: “We have one of the most beautiful high streets in the country and we have these stalls in the middle of a very narrow street.

“When you are out on a Saturday it is like you are standing in Wembley Way on cup final day.”

But Chris Turner, executive director of Winchester BID, said he BID was working closely with the city council to solve problems between traders and the markets and said they were trying to reduce the days the markets operate by one per week.

He added that many businesses who opposed the markets when they first appeared in the High Street had changed their view.

Prof Turner said: “When the markets arrived we were extremely opposed to them. We were irked that they were planted in front of some of our core members.

“But the council have most certainly listened to us and the market is now spread up and down the High Street and there is space between the stalls and the retailers.”

It comes after a recent Tourism South East survey showed the markets were very popular with both residents and visitors, while market bosses say traders are queuing up to get pitches.

But the market is expected to move should the Silver Hill plans go ahead.

Concerns were also raised at the meeting over lorry deliveries in the High Street.

Tom Waterhouse of bus company Stagecoach said lorry deliveries at the back of Marks and Spencer was disrupting use of a new bus stop brought in last year.

He said: “Wagons load and unload into Marks and Spencer which makes it hard for us to serve this new stop. It’s a difficult area of the city but we are experiencing problems.”

Mr Simmons added: “It’s a major problem to us. Lorries are constantly coming and parking in front of our shop.”

Prof Turner said there were restricted delivery times in place in the High Street and there were also bollards at the junction with St Thomas Street to prevent delivery vehicles moving down the street.