Almost a year after its anchor tenant announced it was pulling out, there are calls for the council to do more for a town centre shopping centre.

Businesses in and near Gillingham’s Britton Farm Mall say it has gone to “rack and ruin” since Budgens supermarket quit in February.

They are now accusing owner Medway Council of neglecting the site, which they say is dirty, vandalised and not cleaned regularly.

Scroll down for video

They also claim the bottom part of the car park smells of urine and is blighted by anti-social behaviour and rough sleepers.

In response, the council said the premises has recently undergone a deep clean and plans for the Budgens unit are being considered.

The annual rent would be about £170,000, with council leader Alan Jarrett describing the mall as “essential” to Gillingham High Street.

However, shopkeepers and a cafe owner say they can’t see much has been done this year.

A ramp leading to the mall at the Jeffery Street entrance is broken and has not been repaired despite several complaints.

Carol Welch has been running Liddelows Larder Bakery on the corner of the mall for the past 35 years.

She feels the place needs refurbishing and says cleaning is only done when traders complain and send in photographic evidence.

She said: “It has just got worse since the supermarket closed down.

“There are rodents running about and pigeon mess everywhere and even a dead one in the netting.

“Who wants to come to shop in a place like this? But we still have to keep going.

“There is no cleaning done here on a regular basis and the roof leaks like a sieve.

“The lack of information about what is happening about the supermarket from the council doesn’t help either.”

Omer Copur has run the Oasis cafe situated near the Jeffery Street entrance since 2001.

He says he has now had to start delivering food to people’s homes to keep his business going as hardly anyone visits the centre.

Ted Peplow, who runs Makin Sense – one of the few shops still open in the mall – also says he is losing trade and that the mall is in a “disgusting state”.

David Bird, 78, has been running Look Now opticians in nearby Skinner Street, for the past 35 years and says even his business is suffering because no one bothers going to that part of the high street.

He said: “There is no footfall anymore.

“This used to be a financially prosperous place, but now the east part of the High Street is just begging for customers.”

Medway Council spokesman Jade Edwards said: “The building was marketed with a specialist retail agent and we are seriously considering two options.

"We are confident it will be bought back into use in the near future.

“The mall area has recently been deep-cleaned and we are looking to implement a regular cleaning regime.

“The building is regularly inspected and any required works will be carried out as quickly as possible.

“The council is committed to ensuring the vibrancy of Gillingham town centre.”