A Truro business owner who took to social media to complain about the negative effect of the Christmas markets on his trade says he is ‘overwhelmed’ by the response to his post.

William Clews of Bao Bites in Quay Street posted a photograph of the barriers and cars blockading Boscawen Street outside Duke Street Deli on Wednesday, November 26, the date of the first late-night shopping event and the Father Christmas parade.

The story ran on the front page of last week’s Truro Voice and online, drawing comment from fellow small business owners and shoppers on Facebook.

Louise Hall, who runs the Mockingbird Mimosa Lounge in Nalders Court, said signs directing shoppers to independent businesses “get moved and taken away … people don’t realise we are there”. She added: “Now there’s a food van outside the cathedral. It is a joke when we make sure we open to make late-night shopping and we get no one.”

The Boscawen Street Christmas Markets are a collaboration between Truro Farmers Market, Cornwall Shop Small and Truro Business Improvement District (BID). A not-for-profit organisation with around 360 businesses members paying a levy, Truro BID also funds the installation and maintenance of most of the city centre’s Christmas lights.

Shopper Vicky Strange said: “Someone in BID is getting it SO wrong and gaslighting us into believing we want this.” She continued: “BID money could be invested into making Truro ‘magical’ again - we used to have reindeers, all the local children participated in the lantern parade, we even had an ice rink. These Xmas markets are probably easier (and cheaper) to organise.”

Mr Clews said late-night shopping on Wednesday, December 3 had been even worse than the previous week, with takings less than the night before in spite of increased city footfall.

“I was shocked so many people shared my post and talked about it,” he said. “I didn’t realise so many people would agree with me.

“Whenever there’s anything going on, the barriers go up. The fact they have to put signs up saying ‘businesses open as usual’ means there’s a problem, and it doesn’t balance it out.”

A Truro BID member, Mr Clews said: “I’m not blaming anyone, but something needs to be done. As soon as the festive season kicks in, my Wednesdays and Saturdays are quieter.”

He added: “I am paying for barriers that are stopping me from getting business. I feel caged off from the Christmas spirit.”

In response to the criticism, Truro BID issued a statement saying: “If Truro didn't have Christmas Markets, the city wouldn't have its special festive offer, and residents and visitors will likely leave Cornwall to shop in Exeter and Plymouth in the run-up to Christmas.”

BID manager Alun Jones defended road closures as necessary to create traffic-free Christmas shopping areas. “[These] need to be managed with barriers, signage and cars blocking access because of anti-terrorism rules, which must be followed for such public events.” Signage had been introduced “close to the road closures to help direct customers to the less central locations”.