ANGRY traders claim a new car parking scheme is driving potential customers out of town.

Cafe and restaurant owners in Accrington say new regulations - introduced by the council in May, limiting parking to two hours - has hit their business.

It is understood the disc scheme was introduced to deter workers from hogging valuable shopping car park spaces.

Chamber of trade boss Brian Hodgeson reckons the row is just a storm in a teacup.

But local cafe owner Majorie Clegg, of Peggy's Cafe, in Accrington Market Hall, says her customers are being driven away by the short stay regulations.

"The number of customers using my cafe has dropped since the discs were introduced," she said.

"My regulars pop in but say they can't stay because their parking time is running out."

Joyce Wright, who has run the Copper Kettle Restaurant in Warner Street for 35 years, said: "I had very few customers in the first fortnight after the discs came into force.

"Customers are avoiding coming into town because they've hardly any time to have a relaxing shop. The new regulations have definitely frightened people away from Accrington."

Despite shopkeepers' misgivings, traders' boss Mr Hodgeson says there is no need to worry - because the town's traffic wardens are an understanding crew!

He said: "They realise shoppers won't have as much time to do everything in two hours. They won't force people to throw their lunches down their throats.

"Accrington's wardens aren't like those in other towns. They don't hide round corners watching people park their cars."

But traffic warden inspector Brian Dillon said a lunchtime sandwich would not be seen as a bona fide reason for clocking up extra parking time. He said: "Our traffic wardens are there to enforce parking regulations and will only turn a blind eye in exceptional circumstances. Eating your lunch certainly doesn't fall into that category."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.