Shops owners in both Grove Road and South Street are concerned that the council is concentrating too much on the redevelopment of the Arndale Centre.

Nigel Graham, owner of Designer Goldsmith, said, "This area is now less than a secondary trading spot. If they build the new town centre development it will kill this area totally.

"You only have to look outside. There are hardly any people in the street."

Frances Harrington, manager of Harpers Bookshop, said more should be done to promote Little Chelsea in order to bring in more trade.

She said, "This area could be better if it was more attractive for people. More signs should be put up to direct people to Grove Road."

The owners of Sunflower Cafe said the council should do more to make it financially attractive for new and existing businesses to set up shop in Grove Road and South Street by reducing business rates.

Eastbourne and District Chamber of Commerce says it has been concerned for some time about the closure of independent retailers in the secondary shopping areas and has urged the borough council to consider how solutions can be found to alleviate the problems.   

Ashley Pugh, managing director of W Bruford and a director of the Chamber, said, "It is the secondary shopping areas that provide the unique flavour to any town.

"With plans for the extension to the Arndale Centre hopefully coming back on track in the next few months, it becomes even more important to develop imaginative ways to encourage traders and shoppers to these areas."

The traders' concerns come amid Eastbourne Green Party's calls to council bosses to take action against the "blight of business failures and empty premises" in parts of Terminus Road.

The Greens highlighted 12 empty premises between Pevensey Road and the seafront.

There are currently two vacant shops in both Grove Road and South Street.

Clive Gross, spokesman for Eastbourne Green Party, said, "The problem that Eastbourne has is that it does not have an enterprise strategy for small businesses.

"When I moved into the town seven years ago I was encouraged to open up my business in Little Chelsea and just left to get on with it.

"The existing strategy is wholly based on redeveloping the Arndale Centre which is extremely costly."

A council spokeswoman said, "Eastbourne Borough Council and town centre businesses co-fund the employment of the town centre manager who works with them to attract more business to the town.

"The town centre manager works to promote footfall into the secondary shopping areas of the town by arranging events such as the Reindeer Parade to take people into these areas.

"The Economic Development Team, which includes the town centre manager, work with landlords, property agents and interested businesses and promotes empty properties to business investors.

"The team also proactively contacts absent or less active landlords to encourage them to let their properties.

"Full business rates will become payable on empty properties from April 1 and it is hoped that this will encourage property owners to let their properties more quickly and securely.

"The council does not have the power to reduce business rates on premises, this can only be done by the Valuation Office.

"However, the business rates team actively promote the Small Business Rate Relief scheme to those businesses that can benefit from this.

"For more details of this scheme you can contact the Business Rates team on 01323 415806.

"It is a fundamental part of the town centre regeneration scheme to ensure it links well with the secondary shopping areas of the town and ensure that the increased footfall benefits businesses in these areas.

"It will add to the overall increase in choice for local people, making Eastbourne an attractive place for businesses to invest in and for visitors to come to.

"We are working with partners to support local businesses on a range of projects and initiatives including the promotion of retail as a career choice with Sussex Downs College, and assisting EDEAL to promote business support services to local businesses.

"We also produce a newsletter and business directory, and provide useful information on our website at www.eastbourne.gov.uk/business."