A CONTROVERSIAL new parking scheme is being introduced in Clitheroe despite pleas from local shopkeepers.

Plans to create parking bays in the town centre to accommodate residents, have left shoppers and traders outraged.

The scheme aims to balance the demands for parking between residents, visitors and buisnesses.

It will continue to provide two-hour waiting bays for visitors in Church Brow, Church Street and York Street but spaces can also be used for longer stays by residents with permits.

Lancashire County Council is introducing the pilot scheme in response to years of complaints from residents about lack of parking near their homes.

Out of the 73 newly proposed spaces, 33 are to be shared.

Traders are angry that residents with permits will not be limited to the maximum two-hour time limit during buisness hours.

Jacquline Wadge, owner of JWL Contemporary Jewellery said: “Residents can have that space for 24 hours every day of the week, so how can people visit my shop?

"The council is clearly not aware of the economic situtation facing shopkeepers and is not taking our feelings into consideration.”

Kirsty Southam, manager of Beryl Shoe Shop said: “We will lose customers from the villages especially older people because they cannot park near to the shops.

“Parking is already a problem and now it will be a nightmare.”

County Coun Allan Knox said: “The experimental nature of the scheme should reassure traders because if there are minor problems over the 18 months then we can tweak it over that period.”

The £20,000 scheme will be introduced using an experimental traffic order allowing the restrictions to be tested before a final decision is made on whether to make them permanent.

County Coun Tim Ashton said: “Residents in the centre of Clitheroe have been urging the county council to consider their parking needs alongside those of visitors and businesses for a very long time and this scheme seeks to provide balance.

“Opinion has always beens split and for this reason it has been very difficult to reach a compromise, but it is the county council's role to be fair to everyone and we believe the new scheme improves on the present situation.”