Parking hurts local traders (From Stroud News and Journal)

Parking hurts local traders

A JOINT blitz on illegal parking in a Stroud pedestrian zone was hailed as a success by organisers - but angered some local traders who said it hampered business.

Town councillors and Police Community Support Officers were out in force from Wednesday to Friday leafleting motorists around the Stroud Subscription Rooms.

But the crackdown irritated nearby traders who said their customers had been stopped from making quick deliveries and pick-ups outside their shops.

Claire Sanders, from John Street computer shop Web Works, said: "I do not know how much trade I have lost because of this.

"Our customers only stop here long enough to pick up their PC and go. You cannot carry one all the way to Waitrose.

"I had a man come in absolutely fuming, with a child under one arm and a PC under the other. And when we approached them the town councillors about this they didn't respond."

Peter Goodwin, boss of nearby shop La Hacienda, added: "The precise reason we can sell chimeneas and furniture is our accessibility for people to pick up their items.

"It is a good idea to have pedestrian zones but consideration must be given to how traders continue their business."

Green town councillor David Michael, the mastermind behind the three-day blitz, said most drivers and traders had supported the initiative.

"We have had a huge amount of support," he said. "We are not actually changing any rules, just reminding people to respect the pedestrian zone and use it. We are very lucky to have it"

"Drivers are allowed to make deliveries to shops - but not if they are just customers coming by."