A new charity shop is to open in Clevedon – taking the number of charity shops in the town centre to nine.

The RSPCA is to take over the empty Shoe Tree store on Old Church Road and is due to open later this month.

The town centre is already home to several charity shops including St Peter’s Hospice, MIND, Break, Cancer Research, Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, Age UK and CLIC Sergeant.

The news yet another charity shop is to open in Clevedon comes as many units lie vacant.

A number of shops are lying empty in The Triangle including Angel’s childrenswear, the tattoo shop and Tag One fashion store.

The Lloyds Toys shop and Tripps photography have closed and Books and Puzzles in Queens Square is also closing.

Charities do not have to pay business rates like normal retailers and often end up taking over units left empty by businesses.

Local traders say they fear that yet another charity shop is not good for the town.

Businessman Martin Young, who owns Aarons Pets in Old Church Road has been trading for 15 years. Mr Young said: “One or two charity shops in a town centre is fine, but nine is excessive. More effort needs to be put in to attracting independent retailers to the town centre as putting charity shops in vacant units is just the easy option.

“The charity shops are taking business away from the other retailers.”

Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary charity shop manager, Claire Kington said: “Although it’s another charity shop, at least it’ll mean one less unoccupied shop.

“I don’t think the new RSPCA shop will be in competition with us as we are very different charities. We’re a small local charity and the RSPCA is the leading UK animal charity.”

Break Charity has a shop next door to the new RSPCA shop. A member of staff at the shop, who did not want to be named, said: “We’ll lose business when the new charity shop opens. There are already too many charity shops in such a small vicinity.”

Resident, Ali Doran said: “The town’s got far too many charity shops. Although it’s better than being left empty like many other shops, I don’t think another charity shop is necessary.”

A think tank was set up earlier this year to tackle concerns about shops closing. The move follows a meeting between the Chamber of Trade and Commerce and the town council.

Chamber of Trade and Commerce chairman, David Hendey said: “It’s evident that in the current economic climate there isn’t a large queue of new businesses wanting to open.”