MARKET traders in Basildon are looking forward to a new site and a new future.

A regeneration project worth £2million is taking place at St Martin’s Square with the Basildon Market moving to its new home.

Veteran trader, Steven Ginger, 56, runs Ginger Nut Fashions.

His stall has been in the town for 38 years and he is looking forward to the move.

He said: “ I am feeling very positive about it.

“We have not got a date yet, that is a problem but once it’s done, we have years to solve any problems, so I’m happy.

“The people who have been doing it have been really helpful to us, they’re trying to help and got us involved with the council.

“I’m moving to a new spot, which isn’t as big as what I have now, but things change don’t they.”

The new market, supported by Homes England and South Essex College, will contain 46 kiosks with electricity and water, as well as more pop up stalls.

The council are also planting Hornbeam trees once work is complete to replace the ones that were cut down.

Mr Ginger first set up his stall when he was just 18, and since then he has seen a lot of change in Basildon.

He hopes the market move can be a positive for the town as a whole.

He added: “Something has to change in the town centre and hopefully this will kickstart it.

“The council have told us they want to do community events and do lots of different things, which is a good thing.

“Normally the council work against us, but now they’re working with us this time.”

Although Mr Ginger is happy to be moving to his new stall, Richard Hadley, 49, owner of Goodfillers Cafe, is frustrated by not knowing the moving date.

He said: “They are taking the mickey out of us because we do not know when we are going, we need equipment but when do we buy it?

“How long is it going to take, I just feel it is not fair on us.

“Even a month for when we could move, July or August, a rough time would be nice.

“It looks really nice, it’s new and clean, this market is old and run down now, it has been left to run down so it would be nice to go to a nice clean area that will hopefully be kept clean.”

The relocation of the market is intended to kickstart a major redevelopment of Basildon town centre.

Basildon Council previously announced work will also be completed on the area of the bell tower and the church car park in St Martin’s Square.

Harpreet Bhanot, 29, owner of a fruit and veg stall in the market, has been trading for just two years, and he sees the change as an opportunity for his business.

He said: “There are more people passing through St Martin’s Square, with M&S closing too that gives more opportunity to the smaller businesses like myself and others to progress.

“In that sense, it is good, in this day and age people like the brand, they do not normally care what the product is, they prefer the brand behind it, we cannot compete with that, we just have to do our best.” The hope is the existing popular stalls will mix with new offerings and create a vibrant and busy site.