New Street traders up in arms over new loading restrictions.

TRADERS in New Street say Devon County Council has waged war on their businesses - by imposing new loading restrictions.

They fear their trade could be wiped out by a new yellow peril, painted lines which signal the end of daytime deliveries in the street.

David Newton, who owns Honiton Clock Clinic, was shocked to find the lines being painted last Friday.

“They have just wiped out the businesses here by putting in the lines,” he said.

The new lines will prevent the loading or unloading of vehicles during peak periods.

Mr Newton said they will adversely affect his business and mean he and his customers would be unable to load or unload larger goods, such as grandfather clocks, during business hours.

“I moved to New Street because of the lack of restrictions on unloading,” he said.

Mr Newton may now consider relocating his shop.

He said: “How am I going to unload and load items? You can park out of normal hours, but there is such a thing as business hours.”

Estate agent Roger Hemming said: “I don’t understand what we have done or why they are declaring war on traders in New Street. How do we take deliveries?”

Norman Sparks, 79, who lives in New Street, feels he won’t be able to go out and will have problems attending his hospital appointments because he relies on being able to park nearby due to his severe arthritis, which makes walking difficult,

He said: “I feel like I have been discriminated against. It has made me feel ill and really upset,

“I’ve been here all these years and always paid my taxes and they do this.”

Mr Sparks added: “I’ve been here for 40 years and we haven’t had the lines so why are they putting them there now?”

The restriction applies along New Street from High Street to Queen and King Street on both side excluding the section outside 27-29.

It has been put in place in a bid to help the flow of traffic in that area of the town,

A Devon County Council spokesman said: “An existing Monday to Saturday no loading restriction between 9am and 5pm has been in place for a number of years on the side of the road occupied by Lloyds bank.

“As part of a review of waiting restrictions in Honiton it was identified that loading/unloading during peak periods along the opposite side of New Street affected the flow of traffic and as a result, through consultation with the town council, county councillors and police, it was agreed to implement the restriction on both sides of the road.

“No objections were received during the advertising period of the traffic order.”