TRADERS are angry that their busy shopping street has been closed to be used for storing building materials.

A metal cage storing paving slabs, tools and other building materials has appeared in Ship Street in Brighton’s Lanes.

Lyn Avyard, owner of Covet ladies clothes shop, said she arrived at work on Tuesday morning to discover the materials outside.

She said: “I have been in this location for four and a half years and with the work on TK Maxx, then the squatters in the old post office, then the scaffolding on Fabrica, it’s been really hard.

“I finally felt that the area was getting back to what it should be and then this turns up.

“I’ve already had customers tell me that they wouldn’t have come down the road if they hadn’t known I was here. The works aren’t even in Ship Street, they’re on the old Hannington’s building in North Street, and this is just being used for storage.

“I’m really annoyed with the council. Apparently someone came in with a piece of paper in December, but no one told us it would be down here so we didn’t think it affected us.

“The council sent out letters inviting us to a meeting but they didn’t say what the meeting was about so we didn’t go because we didn’t know it was about us. None of the businesses down here knew it was happening until this week, when it suddenly appeared.

“I feel totally abused by the council. People come to Brighton because they are attracted by the independent retailers, but the council doesn’t support us.”

Nick Carpenter, who owns the Male Concept barbers, added: “The businesses down here are really upset because no one told us about it. The work being done is in North Street so no one realised they wanted to do anything here.

“They have blocked off the road and it is stopping people walking up and down and having a real impact on passing trade.”

Brighton and Hove City Council was approached by The Argus to comment but we had not received a reply at the time of publication.