TOURISM in Bewdley is being killed as a result of major and disruptive projects being carried out in the middle of the peak season, traders have claimed.

Businessmen in the heart of the town are up in arms after suffering losses in trade of up to 50 per cent due to a parking crisis sparked by flood defence work, combined with roadworks being carried out on Welch Gate - the main route into Bewdley from the west.

Chamber of Trade president Don Roles predicted the situation would get worse when a seven-week project, involving Load Street being dug up for gas works, starts later this month.

"There won't be a Bewdley by the time all this has finished," he said.

"At 9am on Saturday there was not one parking space left.

"The town relies on tourism and without the retail trade there is no Bewdley."

Headquarters for contractors working on a multi-million pound project to install the foundations for removable flood barriers along Severnside North have taken over a large portion of Dog Lane car park.

Closed

Severnside South, which leads to the town's other major car park at Gardener's Meadow, is in the middle of a three-week closure as workers prepare the second phase of the project.

It is due to be completed in 2004, when owners of businesses there are expected to follow the lead of the Quay Gallery in Severnside North, which successfully claimed compensation for lost trade.

However, Mr Roles insists the whole town centre is suffering from the knock-on effects of the work.

He fears visitors will not be aware they can still access Gardener's Meadow car part this month by driving up Load Street and High Street and then down Lax Lane.

Mr Roles said a trader based opposite the Load Street car park had received 24 complaints about the lack of parking spaces in one hour at the weekend.

"I know these people have a job to do, but we will still be here when they have gone," he added.

An Environment Agency spokesman said work was coming to an end on Severside South and about 20 spaces would be back in use by the end of the month.

The rest would be back in service gradually throughout September, he added.