People are being given the chance to have their say on future plans to shape Market Harborough town centre.

Harborough District Council wants to relocate the 19-year-old indoor market, in Northampton Road, and bring in a national chain shop to the building.

The market would be held next door to the council's headquarters, in Adam and Eve Street.

The authority also wants to create shops on the ground floor of its office complex and move the library next to the museum on the first floor.

The council would then shift its offices on to the remaining upper two floors of the former corset factory.

Council leader Councillor Mike Rook said: "This is an exciting opportunity for the whole district to help shape the future of Harborough town centre.

"We've said that doing nothing is not an option."

The council has written to a number of groups in the town, including the market traders, to invite them for detailed talks on the proposals.

However, the market traders are firmly opposed to the proposals to move to the area behind the council offices. They have already submitted an 8,000-name petition against the closure of the indoor market.

They have also started a fresh campaign in response to the detailed proposals being outlined by the council and gathered more than 2,000 supporters in two weeks.

Stallholders' spokesman John Cleaver said: "We have told the council we are willing to meet them but we are unanimous we will not move.

"The council's proposals are not acceptable."

The changes have been recommended by consultants to ensure the council uses its assets more commercially to get better value for the district's taxpayers, close the council's funding gap and provide fit-for-purpose office space.

The current headquarters are deemed too big and in need of significant repair.

Plans for the proposals are on display boards in the council's reception area.

People can also make comments online or e-mail:

www.harborough.gov.uk/ transformation

transformation@harborough. gov.uk