HAWORTH traders have united against strict enforcement of parking restrictions outside their shops, which they say is driving away custom.

Mill Hey shop owners say they are being penalised by wardens ticketing people parking on double yellow lines.

Traders want free, short-stay parking to give shoppers and business owners a chance to load or unload.

Stuart Murley, owner of Pennine Models, said his wife received a £35 ticket outside their business because she was unable to load heavy boxes fast enough.

“She’s nearly 80 and because she couldn’t move these boxes immediately she was fined,” he added.

“When they painted the double yellows we were promised 30 minutes free parking in Gas Street Car Park. But they took that away a couple of years ago.”

Mr Murley said until a few weeks ago wardens allowed motorists some leeway. But he said they now ticket people immediately.

“It’s getting out of hand,” he said. We’re not asking for unrestricted parking. We’d like sensible, controlled short-term parking.”

Julie Rhodes, who owns Rhodes Hardware, said: “A man came here for a gas bottle weighing 15 kilos and he was given an instant ticket.

“We sell a lot of heavy stuff here – coal, logs, gas bottles, compost – which is difficult to load quickly.

“We’ve been in business since 1963. My parents ran the shop before me and we rode the storm of the supermarket revolution.

“But now we’re being hit by online shopping and since the free parking stopped we’ve seen a big impact.

“It’s been horrendous for the last month. I’ve had about seven or eight people who’ve been ticketed.

“As a business we try and do right by people so it breaks my heart to see customers getting tickets.”

Eileen Barnes, who opened Peggy Tubs laundrette over a month ago, said: “One customer had only been here seconds while he was unloading stuff, but the wardens were onto him.

“That’s happened to other people too. We’re warning everyone who comes here by car to be careful.”

Sharon Barker, owner of Worth Valley Pet Store, warned: “This is how small businesses end up closing. People who can’t park here will shop online instead.

“We’ve worked really hard for this business. People do want to support their local shops. But they are being forced away from shopping local. It’s soul destroying.”

A Bradford Council spokesman responded: “Recent parking enforcement was prompted by requests from local district and parish councillors who were concerned about road safety issues caused by motorists parking on double yellow lines along this narrow street.

“We’ll listen carefully to the retailers’ concerns and review the restrictions along this section of road.”