Worried traders say a new car park must be provided before councillors can consider banning traffic from a busy town centre road.

Haywards Heath Town Council is suggesting the growing number of cafes and restaurants in The Broadway mean it might be suitable for a pedestrianisation scheme.

But traders are concerned banning traffic would cost them business by removing free parking spaces outside their shops.

Lee Appleby, owner of fashion retailer The Locker Room, said: "People pull up at the front of the shop because it's convenient. If they pedestrianise it all the time with no new car park, it will kill this end of town."

Arthur Mann, who works at the Domestic Appliance Centre, said: "It's difficult to park around here at the best of times, but this would make it even more difficult.

"You don't want to carry vacuum cleaners and things like that too far."

Richard Leigh-Lawson, assistant manager at Cafe Rouge, said he opposed the idea because banning traffic would reduce passing trade.

Kei Soong, manager of Mr Chippy, said takings in the shop fell by a third when the road was closed to allow a French market recently.

Mike Hill, of the Haywards Heath Business Association, said: "HHBA would be very enthusiastic for the pedestrianisation of The Broadway to be put on the agenda when the whole issue of Haywards Heath infrastructure is discussed.

"It could not, however, be progressed in isolation.

"For instance, there would have to be provision for extra parking to ensure that customers could reach retailers and restaurants.

"Similarly, the traffic flow around the Muster Green one-way system would have to be rethought."

A spokeswoman for Mid Sussex District Council said: "We take note of the points raised by the town council, but feel this is part of a much larger issue to do with traffic management in the town centre.

"This would be a matter for the county surveyor as the county council is the responsible highway authority and we have not received any approaches on this so far.

"However, we would of course be pleased to work together with the county and town councils if this issue were to be progressed."

West Sussex County Council is the authority that would eventually decide whether to pedestrianise the road.