Shoppers in one of Nottinghamshire's oldest traditional market towns say plans to limit trading to just one day a week will "kill off the town".
Ashfield District Council has said the market, on Sutton-in-Ashfield's Portland Square, will only run on Mondays from April - as the council looks to focus on "specialist" market events.
But residents have said the traditional market is a "lifeline" for older people who use it for socialising, saying emptying the busy Portland Square will "only encourage antisocial behaviour".
Liga Shaw, 33, helps run the healthy eating market stall Kick and says traders will do "everything possible" to halt the changes - including launching a petition.
"We are new traders, but there are some people who have been here for between 10 and 15 years", she said.
"Since it was announced, traders have felt like their livelihoods will be taken away. It's only on four days a week as it is and taking it down to just the one day will kill off the town.
"Having an active market is a lifeline for some people. We have a regular customer who visits most days, she doesn't always buy something but she will come in for conversations.
"Take that focal point away from people like this, and they will have no social interaction."
Kristian Shaw, 39, is Liga's husband and he says there is "clearly a demand" for the market - otherwise the traders would have left "long ago".
"Sometimes if the weather is bad they don't put it on at all. This isn't fair on the traders", he added.
"When the market used to be on Market Square, the structures were strong and held in the weather. Now they are really flimsy, they fall over in the wind.
"If they empty this square it's going to do is encourage antisocial behaviour. When we leave for the day, people come with their bikes and skateboards - give it to them all day and it will increase."
Duanne Elliott, 35, who works at EcoVape on Portland Square, thinks something "needs to be done" with the market, but disagrees with reducing its days.
"It has been dying since they moved it up from the old market place five-or-so years ago", he said.
"I'm not sure what they could do to improve it, but there's definitely not as much on there as there used to be. You see the regular traders on there, but there isn't variety.
"It still has a place, but something needs to be done."
Councillor Helen-Ann Smith, deputy leader of the council, defended the plans.
She said: “Currently Ashfield has 10 outdoor markets, which is a relatively high number considering the national decline of traditional retail markets.
"Sutton Outdoor Market is currently operating significantly under-capacity on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, reflecting national statistics.
“Our aim is to increase footfall in the town centres, creating a thriving environment to be enjoyed by residents and visitors.”
