Ten new traffic wardens are being introduced in Horsham, where traders believe excessive parking fees and a park-and-ride scheme are already crippling profits.

Fines of up to £90 will be issued to shoppers - even though department stores, established smaller retailers and businesses are all closing their doors.

Alan Murray, director of Murray PR in West Street, said his company, based in the town for seven years, will leave when his lease expires, purely to escape the parking regime.

He said: "As an employer, I have to say the council's parking restrictions are simply killing business. Their measures are so draconian and the only reason we have them is to pay for the park-and- ride scheme.

"Meanwhile, we pay for councillors to have a 200-space car park for themselves in the middle of a town they're trying not to pollute.

"As a result, if you walk around the town now there's a sea of To Let signs."

Horsham District Council introduced the Hop Oast park-and-ride scheme three years ago, at the same time increasing parking fees to £10 a day.

From January 23, the council will be employing 13 new parking attendants, replacing the three previously run by police.

Mr Murray said: "I think traffic wardens are likely to exacerbate everything. It's stupid, they are never going to help. They are just going to antagonise people."

In recent months, both national chains and independent shops have left the town.

A large Allders store remains empty and Dixons, Sony and MVC have all closed down.

Now the Sussex Camera Centre, at the heart of Horsham for 60 years, is leaving the town.

Manager David Woods said: "As soon as they brought the park-and-ride in and decided to jack the parking prices up to £10 a day, we saw trade take a nosedive -

within two weeks everyone did.

"We're closing everything up, turning off the electrics and we're off on Saturday."

Mr Murray said: "Independent retailers have found it impossible to recruit staff as they can't afford to pay for parking.

"Some people just won't come to Horsham to work.

What are we meant to do?

"There's 2,000 sq ft of office space upstairs, which comes with one parking space. No one wants it."

The council said of the 350 shop units in Horsham, less than ten were currently empty, while the Christmas trading figures were "very positive".

Councillor David Jenkins said: "In relation to parking options in Horsham itself, there are more choices than ever before.

"The prices, along with the option of buying season tickets, compare very favourably with other locations and exceptionally well when you remember the £1.50 all-day price for up to five passengers for the park-and-ride."

Fines of £60 will be issued by the new parking attendants, reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks but increasing to £90 for late payments.

Councillors said the money generated will be used for improvements to parking and transport.

Wednesday, November 11, 2006