A TRADER has attacked a move designed to eradicate problem parking on a busy town centre road.

The move by the Highways Partnership to introduce a ban on parking on the right-hand side of Stourport High Street early next year has been welcomed in most quarters.

But Bill Grinnall, owner of WHD Grinnall, said he had "never heard anything so ridiculous".

Mr Grinnall said the move, which will outlaw loading and unloading between 8am and 5pm and stop disabled drivers parking on the right, was "ludicrous".

He said: "The Highways Partnership is bending over backwards to help drivers but not businesses.

"It only ever takes about three minutes at the most to get from one end of the High Street to the other even when cars are parked on the right."

He added: "There is no decent shoppers' car park in Stourport and many people pull up outside the High Street stores for a matter of minutes only.

"They will not be prepared to park streets away to use the shops and this change will only harm businesses as many do not have rear access for deliveries."

However, other town groups have welcomed the proposals and believe the changes will improve traffic flow.

Derek Fradgley, chairman of Stourport Town Centre Forum which called for the change earlier this year in a bid to prevent the continued clogging of the street's two-lane one-way system, said: "The majority of people I have spoken to welcome the change.

"Of course, if people stuck to the current regulations, nothing would have to change."

Stourport Business Association chairman Cynthia Coman said: "Something has to be done to improve the situation. Recently I counted 21 cars parked on the right-hand side of which five were entitled to be there."

Alternative parking spaces will be located in nearby York Street for disabled drivers and deliveries to shops will be made behind the premises once the new laws are introduced.