Furious traders fear their businesses could suffer if parking restrictions are introduced around their Girlington shops.

Jean Smith, who set up a vacuum repair business on Thornton Road at Four Lane Ends six years ago with her husband Stephen, says at least a dozen shops will be affected.

And 500 people have signed petitions against the planned yellow lines, which will start in Young Street, which runs off Thornton Road, and continue on along the busy main road.

Traders running shops such as a newsagent and sandwich shop rely on passing trade and customers being able to park nearby, said Mrs Smith.

"Eventually there will be no one paying business rates at all if Bradford Council continues to force businesses to close like this," she said.

"We were doing very well and running a popular business," added Mrs Smith.

Her Dial-a-Vac business deals with a lot of elderly people who cannot afford to buy new vacuum cleaners.

They need to be able to park close to the shop to bring the machines for repairs.

Staff and visitors to new light industrial units, which were built behind the row of shops, usually park on Young Street said Mrs Smith, and will move to other streets behind the shops, leaving even less space for shoppers to stop.

"People have been very keen to sign the petition.

"Everyone says it's ridiculous to put parking restrictions there," she said.

The traders will present the petition to Bradford Council before its final decision is taken.

Bradford Council said it would consider reaction from the community before pressing ahead with the scheme.

A Bradford Council spokesman said plans had been drawn up to introduce waiting restrictions and a bus stop clear-way in Thornton Road, from Cemetery Road to Ingleby Road.

There were also plans for waiting restrictions on short sections of Young Street and West Park Road.

"We are currently advertising the proposals in the area so people can raise their objections," said the spokesman. "All comments will be considered before any decisions are made."

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