With the number of shoppers heading to Ipswich town centre falling, the town's market needs radical change because it only uses half its available space, traders have said.

And few new stallholders are interested in coming to the town centre according to a new report by the borough.

Now Ipswich market traders want the borough to come up with a new plan for their site on the Cornhill and Giles Circus in a bid to breathe new life into it.

Documents prepared for a meeting of the scrutiny committee next Thursday show the market remains much smaller than the council's target.

Just 54% of the potential space in the Giles Circus area is used – significantly below the council's aim of 85%. Last year 66% of the space was filled.

There's a similar story at Lloyds Avenue arch where only 44% of potential space is used - a drop of 2% from last year. 

Officers who drew up the report are blunt - they blame a continued drop in town centre footfall and a lack of interest from potential new stallholders for the market crisis.

The report said the reduced number of stalls in 2023/24 "is reflective of the reduced town centre footfall and lack of interest from new traders".

There has been a fall in the amount of available space used up in Ipswich Markets.There has been a fall in the amount of available space used up in Ipswich Markets.  (Image: Shikhar Talwar) Stall owners believe there needs to be a change in the layout of the area to help bring more traders to the market.

Under the Lloyds Arch they believe that there has been an increase in casual traders during the council-run AR trails, but this has not resulted in a permanent boost. 

Mick Catchpole calls for a change in layout.Mick Catchpole calls for a change in layout.  (Image: Archant)Head of Catchey's Fruit and Veg on Cornhill, said: "The area the council is giving us is inside the Lloyds Arches. Those stalls would be hidden away."

He said he would like to see the layout go through the town centre, as it would get them more footfall and chance of attracting business. 

"But being stuck underneath an archway, you aren't going to get any traders. People don't walk up there because they don't realise stalls are up there," he added. 

Traders in Giles Circus would like help with seating spaces.Traders in Giles Circus would like help with seating spaces.  (Image: Shikhar Talwar) John Earnshaw, a trader at Giles Circus said that his area is filled with food stalls, but there is not enough space to sit.

"You have to provide your own tables and chairs or people do not have space to sit, which means people would not come down here to get food and hence stalls will not set up here.

"If the council could help us in just adding seating space here, it would go a long way."

Ipswich Borough Council was approached for comment with the report going before committee members this week.