TRADERS fear they could be forced to close because of plans to more than double their rent.

And they say the move would leave Southwick Square a "ghost town" with up to 20 businesses going under.

They believe Adur District Council is poised to put up average rents by more than 160 per cent, from £5,000 a year to more than £13,000.

The rise is part of a five-year review of shop leases conducted by the council which includes the annual rent each trader pays to the council.

Deserted

Some of the shopkeepers in the square have been in business for more than 20 years.

They say they were badly hit when customers deserted the square after Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Homebase superstores opened at the Holmbush centre nearby.

Now they fear many of them will not be able to find the money to pay the rent increases if they go ahead.

The owner of Bryter Colours hardware store, who asked not to be named, said: "Opening the Holmbush was the death knell for Southwick Square traders.

"Putting the rents up by more than double will be the final nail in our coffin and many, including us, would go under."

Fred Trowers, owner of Parishes newsagents, said: "We could not keep going if we had to find that sort of money on top of our other bills.

"We deliver 1,200 newspapers a day and employ 28 paper boys whose jobs would go with us.

"If the council goes ahead it will affect most of the businesses and leave Southwick Square looking like a ghost town."

Liberal Democrat councillor Martin King said: "The square has been allowed to deteriorate recently. The council must be reminded all of us rely on it as an essential community facility."

A council spokesman said rents were last increased ten years ago but were not put up at the last review in 1995 because of the effect on traders of the recession.

"The figures mentioned are starting points for negotiations and if shopkeepers feel they cannot afford to pay those amounts they can meet us to talk about it.

"Southwick Square is a thriving shopping centre and we do not want to see any of the businesses closing."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.