SEASIDE traders were left fuming after being given just hours’ notice about a three-day parking suspension.

The businesses in Madeira Drive, Brighton, have said they will be badly affected by the suspension along the entire road.

The suspension came into force yesterday and is set to run until tomorrow, from 7am until 8pm, while the council carries out road-marking.

Greg Harman, who runs the Madeira Café, said: “Why do the whole road at the same time?

“It seems very extreme. Surely they could have sectioned it off. That would have brought more benefits to the traders.

“This won’t make things any better for us.”

To rub salt into the wound, traders are also unhappy about a rise in parking charges.

Mr Harman added: “We are worried. The parking charges affect us anyway.

“Now Labour have won the council election, I would like them to make this city a welcoming place.

“People are starting to avoid Brighton. I have noticed a big drop. It’s not the place it used to be.”

Mr Harman said the council usually supplies a letter a fortnight or so before works are carried out.

Neil Sykes, who owns Modern World Gallery, said there was “absolutely no warning” about the work.

The 47-year-old said: “Is it urgent work? I think that’s questionable.

“It’s the May festival so how are people supposed to park here?

“Our footfall has dropped by about 60% since last year.

“We need a meeting involving the tenants here with the new Labour councillors – we are the last people to find out anything.”

The Argus:

Julieanne Gilburt runs JAG Gallery, which accommodates 22 artists with their own ventures.

The 42-year-old, a mother of two children, has been running her gallery for 11 years.

She told The Argus: “We have advertised in the Artists Open Houses brochure and this affects our income.

“We’re just trying to earn a living and [the council] just closes the road.”

“It’s not the first time they have done it. They closed the road two days before and two days after the Brighton Marathon. Often in the week it’s empty here because of the cost.”

Another artist, Steven Honeysett, 49, said the area had “got progressively worse”, adding: “The whole area is in danger of being completely isolated.”

Trader Neil Sykes added: “We need help to survive, and we haven't got a voice.

“We are pleading for some real assistance from the council. There are many issues and they need to be addressed.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council apologised for the inconvenience, adding: “The reason for the short notice is that we need to undertake the work to remark the bays as soon as possible to ensure safety as fast as possible.”

New parking bays are being marked out four metres away from the arched terraces in Madeira Drive because of safety concerns.