IN a time of economic struggle for shopkeepers across the district the council's key officer for promoting business has been on sick leave for more than four months.

The Guardian understand that town centre manager David Sellings, who was only appointed to his position late last year, has been off for much of this year through illness.

The lack of a temporary replacement for Mr Sellings has angered some traders' groups.

Chairman of Loughton Broadway town centre partnership Dave Stannard said: “At times like this we need people to do this line of work. I'm very, very disappointed we haven't got a town centre manager.

“I'm a town centre officer and they don't tell me anything. It's all very hush hush. It was: 'he's off for four weeks', then it was another four weeks, and now we understand there's no set date. If he's off they should employ another town centre manager. We need one right now.”

Mr Sellings was the first permanent appointment to the town centre manager position for a number of years and his initial work was welcomed by businesses.

Chairman of Loughton High Road Town Centre Partnership Peter Sheen said: “From my point of view he was a very good officer and I hope he comes back, but there's a feeling that someone should have picked up his role.

“There was quite a few projects going on and they require a dedicated amount of input from a town centre officer.”

Chairman of Epping Town Centre Partnership Barry Seager was more positive about the council's steps to fill in for Mr Sellings.

He said: “I think it's a bit of a shame. He was a nice chap and he was very helpful to us.

“At first it was a bit bad but in the last two or three weeks Vicki Willis and John Preston have been more proactive in stepping in so I haven't got a problem.”

A spokesman for the district council said: “It would be inappropriate to comment publicly on the personal circumstances of a member of our staff.

“However, where we do have long-term absences there are a number of ways in which we can provide temporary cover for these. Some work in this instance has been covered by a colleague.”