Business people in Nuneaton are up in arms over controversial plans to introduce a new resident parking zone in Abbey Green.
Everyone from a florist and butchers to a hairdressers and a bed and breakfast are opposed to the plans which would see permits needed to park up in scores of streets.
Under the proposals by Warwickshire County Council, residents living in the area would have to pay £15 a year to be able to have two parking spaces, plus a third for visitors.
Traders in the area say they have not been offered a permit, which will mean that not only will they not be able to park near to where they work but neither will their customers.
An emergency meeting was held at the Town Talk pub, which is based on the Green, with representatives from some of the 26 businesses affected going along.
Karen Gibson, who has owned the Floral Box florist in Manor Court Road for 24 years, said: "The meeting went well and there were more people there than I thought.
"We had representatives including from Frank Parkers, La Tavola Calda, Hair Cutts, the two bike shops, the Manor Hotel, Wallpaper Warehouse, the Green Tea Room, the new dog grooming place, Tax Assist Accountants, NuLine Components there, and obviously Danny from the Town Talk, and there were a few residents too.
"They (the residents) don't want it as they said they already pay their Council Tax and don't want to pay an extra £15.
"They also said that once they did pay up there was no guarantee that they would be able to park outside their homes or even in the same street, it would just be somewhere in that zone.
"The thing is we, the traders, want the permits. As it stands out of the 26 businesses in the Green only one lives above her shop and that's it - personally I live in Bedworth so how would I get in to work - where would I park?
"This has all come about from people who work in the town and who don't want to pay for parking in town. But it's just going to drive the problem elsewhere.
"Businesses in Abbey Green want to be able to make a living and this is putting an unnecessary pressure and worry on us."
The News contacted Warwickshire County Council who said the initial talks with resident were just that to see if there is a need for permit parking to be introduced.
The current informal consultation runs out on Monday, but could become a more formal one in the New Year.
Explaining that the proposals were in the early stages, a spokesperson for the local authority said: "We are currently informally consulting with residents and businesses of the area to gauge whether a residents parking scheme is desired.
"If the outcome is that it has enough support then we would move forward with a formal consultation early next year."
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 12:01 pm