TRADERS in a part of Worcester city centre earmarked for regeneration have urged the city council to include them in the plans or they could close.

A proposed £75m revamp of Lowesmoor would create 1,000 jobs and attract major stores such as Asda. But shop owners feel they have been left out of the plans and all but one of the 55 stores have signed a petition which they handed into Worcester City Council yesterday.

The list was started by Karen Turl, who opened the vintage boutique Retro in August. She said: "The plans should be sympathetic to what is already there, and they aren't. There are mostly independent retailers down here and we get a hard deal as it is.

"We wholeheartedly welcome any development - that can only be good for Lowesmoor - but it should be in keeping with the shops here now. A lot of businesses are struggling already and this could mean the end of them."

The petition was accompanied by a three-page explanation of what the traders want.

They argue against the proposed Aldi supermarket on the disused Courts site in Pheasant Street as this is currently used as a car park and there are no other parking facilities.

They also say plans to link the development to the city centre via a crossing on City Walls Road to Mealcheapen Street would not serve existing businesses.

They add that the current proposed position of the lorry park for an Asda store, which will be on the old vinegar works site on the Lowesmoor Trading Estate, would be right beside the present shops and would lead to too much traffic and noise.

Nichola Long, the owner of Cre8tive Hair and Beauty, collected many of the signatures. She said: "We went to see the plans last week and they clearly show that there is nothing that will benefit this road.

"We feel as current traders that we should be included. This part of Worcester, which is the first entrance into the city, has been neglected long enough."

Mark Williams, co-owner of the Tattoo Shop, agreed. He said: "As it stands, we fear we will be gobbled up by the new development and we will be forgotten.

"If everything is happening over there, no one is going to think about coming here."

Julian Hand, an accountant who is based in the street, said: "I would like to see the area regenerated. We have nothing against the plans as such - we just want to be included."

Alan Coleman, development control team leader with Worcester City Council, said: "The traders have made very constructive points and we will take them into considerations as part of ongoing discussions."

It is not known when councillors will look at plans for the area.