THE owners of Winsford shopping centre have been heavily criticised for making promises to market traders they have been unable to keep.

MAR Properties announced proposals in March to build a £3million market hall in Fountain Court but last week withdrew its plans.

A spokeswoman for BTW Sheills consultants, representing MAR, said: "We are not really prepared to go into the reasons why at the moment.

"This is not to say we won't look at it again in the future."

But town and borough councillor Tony Hooton believes MAR has severely dented people's confidence in the company.

He said: "I think this shows that we need to be very wary of the promises property developers make.

"A number of people had their doubts about what MAR was proposing when it came up with all these bold ideas and they have now been proved right."

Vale Royal Borough Council has already pledged £130,000 to redevelop the existing market hall and believes MAR will have a difficult job in rebuilding people's trust.

Clr Hooton said: "This shows that the borough council was quite right to put this money in the market.

"People will see the positive outcome of this money very quickly.

"Market traders will be relieved something is happening to help them.

"I think this is a bigger blow to confidence in MAR than it is to market traders."

Clr Hooton added: "I was always sceptical of what it was proposing because it wanted to put millions of pounds into the market while market traders were telling us they were struggling to make a living.

"I don't think Mrs should be making promises it can't keep."