CONCERNS have been raised over how a proposed car boot sale at the Reynolds Arena could affect the livelihoods of Darlington market traders.

Letters are being sent out this week to members of the Darlington Market Stall Holders' Association asking for their reaction to a planning application submitted to Darlington Council for permission to hold a weekly car boot sale at the football stadium.

Robin Blair, the association's vice-chairman, said: "I'm not concerned about the planning application for the car boot sale if it is policed only for the sale of second-hand goods, that's fine.

"But if it goes through and becomes a small market it would be very threatening to Darlington Market. It will threaten the livelihoods of all the stallholders.

"It's not just the threat of customers going there. If traders think it's a better venue they won't bother to come to Darlington Market. If we lose traders then there is a possibility that Darlington will lose its identity as a market town."

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said the application had been pencilled in for consideration by the planning committee on December 17. But she added that there were a number of issues in the application to be clarified first before it could be officially listed on the planning committee agenda.

Mr Blair said: "The arena is a good venue, it is well situated and the sale could be held on a Sunday. But in the future it may become a big threat as markets are in a very fragile state at the moment.

"I am sending out letters to all members of the association asking for their feelings on the matter before any formal objections to the council are made."

In September, Darlington Council had to seek a court injunction to stop the club staging a weekly car boot sale at the stadium to bring in extra income.

The authority said the event would be in breach of planning regulations and the town's market charter.

A High Court judge granted an interim injunction against the car boot sale and before a full hearing took place, George Reynolds, club chairman, confirmed he would apply for planning permission.

Mr Reynolds has said the club cannot survive on the income generated by football activities alone.