TRADERS and residents are angry at changes to the parking spaces on the main road in their town.

Work by North Yorkshire County Council to widen the pavement and move a bus stop in Commercial Street in Norton started last week and the job is expected to last 18 weeks.

Locals say they are worried that trade will be affected because it will stop shoppers parking outside the stores.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of Norton Town Council on Monday night when Lisa Castell, owner of Norton Hardware, said that the lack of parking for loading and unloading, lack of communication between highways and traders, and inaccurate signage all had a negative effect on trade.

She said that the Costcutter store was down 500 customers a week, and that other stores’ trade was down 50 per cent. “I don’t think we’ll be able to last 18 weeks - the time the road works are supposed to take – and stay in business.”

Another concern was health and safety problem, as one old lady had slipped on the ramp, and another had fallen into one of the holes where the pavement was being dug up.

Ray King, who owns Corks and Cans off-licence in Norton, and also attended the town council meeting, said: “It is affecting the whole street. Traders have been coming to me saying these are desperate times.

“I think the improvements to the pavement are needed in some areas, but the changes to the parking along here are really detrimental to the town. I would like the faceless people at the county council to tell us why they have come to this decision.”

Dave Avison, who lives on Wold Street in Norton with his wife, Wendy, said: “I heard about these road works about eight months ago, but I couldn’t believe the plans would come to anything. The fact that they are actually going ahead is a joke and a total waste of money.

“Moving the bus stop out onto the road will now stop all the road users when the bus stops, and cause traffic congestion in Norton.”

He added: “So much for what we say and want in this town. Lots of people in Norton said no to the idea when it was suggested. The council just don’t care and go ahead and do it.”

A spokesman for the County Council said: “We are carrying out highways improvements in Commercial Street, Norton, in order to help to boost trade for local shopkeepers.

“This includes pavement widening in a series of localised areas on Commercial Street as well as creating two more parking spaces than existed previously.

“In addition, in response to shopkeepers’ concerns, a number of parking spaces in front of shops are being restricted to 10 or 20 minutes waiting in order to prevent long-stay parking and to provide better access for shoppers.”

Coun Di Keal has promised to speak to the County Council to try to see if traders in Commercial Street could be offered any rebate on their business rates.