A market is coming under new management next week, and traders have been sharing their thoughts on the ways to improve business.

Taz Brown, 35, from Hammersmith has run the store, Proper Grass, in the Watford New Market in High Street, since August.

He says that most of his business is usually done during football matches when large numbers of people come to Watford – although the location of the market is hurting business he says to help business people have to know where it is.

Mr Brown said: “You get people coming down but its tucked away people come here saying we didn’t know where the market was.

“There’s not enough signage for people, even when you come out of the train station, sometimes when I come by train I also get lost because there are not enough signs and the market is hidden.

“There are other markets which have much more footfall, and that’s because everyone knows where they are.”

Peter Janic, 40, the owner of Pete’s Beans says that the location is good and what needs to be done is to brighten up the market and install an attraction to bring in the crowds.

Mr Janic said: “It’s a good location and it is advertised because from what I see here, there are people who keep coming back to the market.

“I have a lot of regulars, and it’s a growing number, even though some people say it is hidden there is a sign saying Watford New Market above the freeway.

“I think it probably needs brighter colours and made more inviting, they need to put something here to bring people in, and you need to invest more into the market to get more out of it.

“I think the market has a good future because people like this place when people are coming here people like it and keep coming back, of course, you can’t please everyone.”

Binit Shah, 44, from Stanmore says the footfall at the market needs to be better while management of the market needs to do more to renovate, clean up and advertise the market.

Mr Shah said: “They need to improve the footfall, it’s not great, but it can be better.

“The market is hidden away from the public, and it looks dirty, there is some confusion about whether we are an outdoor market or an indoor market.

“We need the place to look different, the shops are painted black, and it looks like a garage, it seems dirty and needs a facelift.

“We need to act quickly, and we’re all going to lose out on this, the location is a bit hidden away, and the works are not helping us either.

“You can see how much money I spent on to make the place look nice and the rest of the market doesn’t look the same.

“If we can’t get people in then none of us will be able to put food on our table.”

Martin Valentine, 53, from South Oxhey, used to work at the market as greengrocer - he said the lack of community around the market has contributed to its decline.

Mr Valentine said: “I think the market is finished, there is no sense of community anymore and you can’t find people who you know and trust.

“Now there are people from all over the place, like London coming to trade on the market and I think that is why it has lost its appeal to people.

“Trust and interaction are how a market can thrive and how you will get people coming back again and again; instead the shops are in containers and shut away.

“It’s tucked away, if you are a local and want to go there then that would be ok, but you can get half of what they are selling at a supermarket or online

“I don’t think there is any hope for it.”