PADDY'S Market traders say they are "devastated" at City Council plans to clear them from the area.

PADDY'S Market traders say they are "devastated" at City Council plans to clear them from the area.

And they have warned that as many as 80 people will end up on the dole because of the council's "hard-line" stance.

The comments come after council development director Steve Inch said he wanted City Markets, which runs car boot sales at Blochairn and elsewhere, to take over management of the area.

Third generation trader Brian Daly said: "We are devastated by this. If the City Council take vacant possession of Paddy's that will mean 80 people being put out of work.

"That will be 80 new people having to sign on to say nothing of the mental health impact in facing an uncertain and bleak future.

"Not only that, there are people who have invested significant capital in their businesses here who will lose that without any compensation whatsoever. The repercussions are dire. This is like the council making 80 people redundant and is bordering on theft.

"This is no way for a caring Labour administration to behave and if it were housing stock, for example, everyone would be rehoused. Businesses and people would be compensated."

"We have all said time and again we welcome the council's desire to get involved with Paddy's and want to work with them. We want change for the better.

"To have this proposed wholesale expulsion and termination of people's working lives as well as ripping out the heart of a community is a heartless act."

Mr Inch, in a letter to traders, said he recognised there were a number of "legitimate traders" who operated in the market and the council was "considering their welfare".