CRICKLADE traders have voiced concern over plans to narrow the High Street, which are aimed at making it safer for elderly and young people to cross the road.

Many say the work, which is already in progress, will ruin their businesses.

More than 60 people who packed a recent meeting of the town council heard how built out sections into the road will swallow up meters of unrestricted highway used by shoppers to park their cars.

The equivalent of eight parking spaces will be lost when the scheme is completed by North Wiltshire District Council next month.

In the meantime traders estimate a further 20 spaces will be unavailable while work is completed.

One trader, Michael Hart of the Hart Family Butchers, likened the move to tightening a noose around the town's neck.

The Sally Tea Rooms has announced it will close at the end of July. Owner Steve Crouch says the loss of parking spaces is partly to blame.

We rely heavily on passing trade because Cricklade is a rural town. If people can't park they won't come in, he said.

Julian Kashdan-Brown, the principal urban designer with the district council, said the plans had been properly approved in line with regulatory planning procedure.

But other shop owners say trade is dropping at such a rate, they might not be around to see the results.

Speaking for the traders at the meeting David Cuthbertson, the chairman of Cricklade Business Association said: It is killing our town. Businesses will close. What we would like to see is an alternative car park for the High Street.