FED-UP shopkeepers have joined forces to fight parking restrictions in the streets where they trade, reports Daniel Orr.

The women, who all run shops in Ulverston, felt they had to do something after receiving a letter earlier this month from Peter Winston, secretary of the town's traders' association.

Mr Winston warned that parking attendants would begin strictly enforcing parking by-laws that stop people parking in Brogden Street and New Market Street on the Thursday and Saturday market days - rather than "turning a blind eye" to shoppers who park in the roads when there are no market stalls.

More than 300 people have signed a petition against the move and Sandie Mander, who has managed the Cumbrian Way food and crafts shop at Brogden Street for almost five years, said the decision was unfair and would affect trade.

"The last time they tried to enforce it a few years ago, I would spend most of the day running out and warning shoppers who were parking. I would ask them what they would do, and they said they were off to Booths or Barrow, so we lost customers then and we will again. It will affect trade elsewhere because people won't be able to just pop in somewhere.

"This road is never used by market stalls on a Saturday. Every Saturday it is empty. It is just ridiculous to stop people parking there. New Market Street only has stalls on the third Saturday of every month for the Made in Cumbria fairs."

Mrs Mander has been joined by Carol Padley and Pamela Morris, from the Old Bakehouse Café, as well as Janette Stainton, from Spectrum Hair and Beauty.

In his letter, Mr Winston said parking attendants had recently been "turning a blind eye" to short-term parking, but said this was about to change under the direction of Cumbria County Council.

Mr Winston wrote: "This will catch people out and upset many. Please make your customers aware of this change in advance to ensure that as few people as possible are landed with an unexpected parking ticket."

A spokesman for the county council said the parking regulations were produced by the council, but added South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) was responsible for their implementation. The spokesman confirmed that the county council had received Mrs Mander's petition, and it would be brought to the attention of the local area committee.

A spokesman for SLDC said the issue arose after a letter was sent by Ulverston Town Council requesting consistency in approaches to parking enforcement on market days. Councillors have discussed the issue at recent meetings.

The spokesman added: "Rather than immediately issuing penalty charges to vehicles that were parked in contravention of the regulations, we elected to give a month's notice that penalties would be issued in the future. This was in the form of warning notices affixed to car windscreens.

"Any requests for changes to the regulations should be addressed to Cumbria County Council."

FUMING: Shopkeeper Sandie Mander (left) is pictured with fellow traders Carol Padley (centre) and Pamela Morris.