Carlton and Mapperley traders protest at parking fees

TRADERS fear their livelihoods will be lost when charging is introduced for car parks across Gedling borough.

Councillors have voted to bring in the charges from August to help balance the books.

But traders in Carlton Square fear charges will drive customers away to supermarkets, while those on Mapperley Top held a protest on Saturday and have already collected hundreds of petition signatures.

Denise Bailey, runs Baileys Food Market on Mapperley Top, a store which was opened by her step-father 76 years ago.

She said: "Mapperley is a community where people come up and have a chat and you know everybody.

"A lot of people come two or three times a week, and they won't be able to pay 60 pence every time they come up to do a bit of shopping."

Saturday's protest was organised by Julie Sands, of True Colours Art Gallery. "It will have a devastating effect on our community," she said. "People from the surrounding villages are going to bypass us and go to Sherwood where it's free, or go to the supermarket where it's free."

Residents around Mapperley Top also fear drivers will be pushed into already-congested residential streets.

Charges will start at 60p for up to an hour, rising to £1 for up to two, £2 for up to three, £5 for up to four and £10 for over four hours.

Traders in Carlton Square fear passing trade will be lost.

Kamal Patel, 41, who has run a newsagents with his wife for 15 years, said: "If they are just popping to get a paper they are not going to pay 60p."

And Marie Timson, 39, from Carlton Laundrette, said she was worried her customers would head to Netherfield instead.

Alix Needham, 20, who has run the It's Just Delicious bakery and cafe for a year, said she would start a petition for customers opposed to the charges.

Hairdresser Christina Cave, who has run Elhairgance in Carlton Square for seven years, feared her customers would go elsewhere.

Before the vote, Labour councillors said they wanted to defer the charges for a year due to the recession, and the Lib Dems suggested starting at a rate of 20p.

But Roland Spencer, leader of the Conservative council, said he believed charges would help shops, as they could cut the amount of time cars were parked, freeing more spaces and increasing custom.

In a statement he said: "There is a statutory consultation process underway and the council will be considering all objections received."