NEW businesses in the historic Shambles indoor market in Devizes say the controversial decision to create start-up units has proved a success.

John Oliver, who owns La Belle Provence in The Shambles, said on behalf of the traders: "Every week more people are coming through the building discovering how it has changed and the new businesses based here.

"With a lovely venue and lots of diverse traders, our customers are increasingly seeing The Shambles as a fabulous location in Devizes for Christmas shopping to be an enjoyable experience rather than a chore."

Wiltshire Council decided earlier this year to turn the top part of the indoor market into permanent units and insist traders must be open at least five days a week.

This meant that some traders including a fruit and vegetable stall which had traded for many years by Tony May decided to close. But Mr Oliver said that he believed the revamped market was attracting new customers.

He said: "Since September, The Shambles in the heart of the town has become home to several small and start-up permanent businesses, offering a wide range products including drones, traditional sweets, pet supplies, Provence homewares, beds and second-hand furniture, spiritual and ethnic goods and country chic furniture as well as an established cafe.

"With many of the products not available in High Street shops, The Shambles is becoming increasingly popular with shoppers looking for something different. And with the peak Christmas shopping period getting under way, traders in the venue are planning various festive attractions."

These include opening late on Friday, November 27, for the lantern parade and Christmas light switch-on and hosting a pop-up choir on Thursday, December 10.

Mr Oliver said: “Our longer-term aim is to make The Shambles a go-to venue throughout the year.

"One of the main changes is that we are now open for five or six days a week, rather than the previous three days.”

Wiltshire Council created 11 lockable shopping units for small and start-up businesses which now operate alongside traditional, established market traders further down The Shambles.

Some members of Devizes Town Council spoke out against the change as they feared the loss of traditional stalls.

Mr Oliver said: "The overwhelming view expressed to me in talking to people coming to buy and browse in the unit is that the refurbished building is a huge improvement and visitors welcome the arrival of new, 'better', proper shops.

"People who haven't been into The Shambles for many weeks/months, or even years, in a couple of instances, pretty much universally comment on how much nicer it is and like the fact that there are different products and businesses."