STRUGGLING traders are furious following the erection of a huge fairground attraction that significantly obscures Darlington’s covered market.

The arrival of a funfair to the town’s market square has been met with consternation from market traders who say the council has failed to consider its impact on their businesses.

While funfairs are regularly hosted on the site without complaint, the most current incarnation includes one huge attraction that towers above the others.

The Jumbo Circus stands just in front of the Victorian market, obscuring it from the view of those approaching from the market square.

Its appearance has prompted worried stallholders to lodge a complaint with Darlington Borough Council accusing the authority of displaying “a lack of thought and consideration for local businesses.”

Traders claim their businesses are already struggling in light of uncertainty over the market’s ownership and say the ‘thoughtless’ siting of the attraction is another blow to their businesses.

Peter Bulmer, of the Waterhouse Kitchen, took to social media to demand the relocation of the Jumbo Circus, while Alex Blackham – chair of the Darlington Retail Market Stallholders Association – said traders usually welcomed the fair and its potential for extra footfall but were unhappy about the detrimental effect the latest attraction could have.

Mr Blackham wrote to the council, saying: “At a time when the market is in crisis, some genius decides that the placement of a large structure to completely hide any evidence of a fantastic Victorian market and the shops that adorn it is a brilliant idea…Did any thought or consideration go to us in the planning of this great wall hiding us from visitors to the town during the Easter break?

“It is totally thoughtless and inconsiderate and will prove detrimental to us. Words cannot express how angry we are.”

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: “We note people’s comments about the positioning of rides for the Easter fair, particularly in relation to the covered market.

“We are confident that, rather than hurting trade, the fair will attract more people into the town centre over the holidays. This can only be beneficial to town centre traders, including those in the market.”

The spokesman said stallholders will be given money-off fairground vouchers to distribute to shoppers.