Traders may be forced to quit if plans are passed to increase rents by 60 per cent.

Small businesses in Southwick Square in Southwick are facing the rise and there are fears some shopkeepers will not be able to cope.

The level was decided by independent valuers who assessed the market value of the properties.

Adur District Council will tomorrow decide whether to approve the rise, which could also be backdated.

Traders plan to lobby councillors to stop them.

John Stevens, a resident speaking for the traders, said: "The last rental increase was in 1990 but we were at the height of the property boom then and commercial rents were at a peak in Worthing.

"The rents went up by 50 per cent just as we were going into a recession."

Mr Stevens said rents in the square were frozen but went down in other areas. He said traders had been paying over the odds for several years and this should be reflected in the latest planned rise.

He said: "I feel that with a community like Southwick, where Government policy is to reduce the need to travel and 40 per cent of the local community do not have access to travel, it makes sense to protect the shops.

"Most of the traders are small businessmen and probably work longer hours than people in conventional jobs and probably get less than the minimum wage."

Beryl Ferrers-Guy, of Adur Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said traders would be happy to pay an increase which was fair.

She said: "The traders said they would like a 23 per cent rise as a starting point.

"But the council has already agreed a 60 per cent rise with four of the largest companies on Southwick Square and therefore are saying it's tough if we don't like it.

"A lot of companies will not be able to afford this, especially if it is backdated.

"I would like to see how much money has been spent on outside valuers because if this matter goes to arbitration it would mean that money has been wasted."

A spokesman for agents Oakley Commercial said the market rental values were comparable with other shops nearby Council finance officers said savings would have to be found elsewhere if a lower rental income is accepted because budgets have already been drawn up.

The meeting will be held at Adur Civic Centre, Ham Road, Shoreham, at 6pm.