Angry traders claim parking charges in Southwick are devastating their businesses.

Shop owners in Southwick Square said the introduction of only 20 minutes' free parking in car parks was deterring people from browsing.

Shoppers are keen to get back to their vehicles before being slapped with a fine.

Beryl Ferrers-Guy, secretary of Adur and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "Traders have told me people just go into the shops, get what they want and dash back out again.

"People are just not going to the square like they used to. It's becoming deserted.

"Those who do venture into the shops normally leave an anxious husband waiting by the car. It seems in danger of becoming a street of anxious husbands."

The comments followed a survey by the chamber on how parking charges had affected businesses.

Most traders said sales were down at least ten per cent, with some claiming losses of 30 or 40 per cent.

The new system was launched in car parks in April, replacing a disc system.

Shoppers were allowed two hours free and then could pay for extra parking.

The changes reduced free parking to 20 minutes with parking charges of 40p per hour or £2 for a full day. Anyone staying over their time faces a fine.

Street parking remains free but traders claim shoppers are jostling with residents for these few spaces. Tempers were also running high at shop counters.

The survey stated: "Many proprietors notified high stress levels of staff as a result of irritable, impatient and disgruntled customers who insist on fast service."

It also revealed the charges were cutting into workers' wages. Shop staff unable to find street parking can pay £2 a day or buy a season ticket for £300.

The survey stated: "Traders confirm in the majority of cases staff have always parked in side streets as opposed to the car parks. But they are now having to walk longer distances from their cars to their places of work. Some have expressed concern about their safety during dark evenings when returning to their cars."

John Burtenshaw, joint owner of Southwick Square Meats, said: "The parking charges are having a devastating effect on business. It's just a slow downhill spiral. We can't compete with supermarkets who have free parking.

"Many people have seen their businesses hit, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.

"People used to struggle to get into the Southwick Square car park on Saturdays. Now it's lucky to be a third full."

Mr Burtenshaw, who has run the butcher's shop since 1985, said problems had been compounded by rising rents.

His annual rent had increased from £5,800 to £9,000 in the past two years.

He said: "We've had to take on outside catering at pubs and nursing homes to survive.

"We don't get much passing trade here.

"It's like a village, we rely on the people who live locally. This could rip out the heart of our community."

Adur District Council leader Neil Parkin said the changes were made because the council had been subsidising its car parks by £113,000 a year.

He said: "We can no longer afford to subsidise the free two-hour parking.

"We introduced the 20-minute free parking so people could go to the shops for a pint of milk or a newspaper.

"If people want to shop properly, they have to pay.

"In Brighton and Hove people pay to park on the street.

"We want Southwick Square to be a thriving shopping centre.

"Traders are blaming all their down-turning trade on the parking charges.

"But if you spoke to any trader in Brighton, they would tell you there is a recession on."

Thursday August 26, 2004