The fury of traders along Foretescue Road in Radstock was plain today - just 24 hours after they learned about plans to cordon off some of the parking along the road, for social distancing measures.

It has also reignited the anger that the traders, many of whom have continued to work through coronavirus, feel about how they are always treated by B&NES officials.

Thomas Thomson (93) who has run Thomsons Hardware for the last 47 years said: " The shops have been working hard to keep local people safe and provide the essentials that they need through lockdown. The closure of these parking spaces now is totally unnecessary. We have already shown that people can social distance and that will not change with the relaxation of the rules. BANES action is nothing more than a kick in the teeth for hard working local shopkeepers".

Traders discovered yesterday (June 15) that plans are being made to close off the parking spaces in Fortescue Road and The Street.

Jeanette Mitchell of Cottles told Nub News: " It was the first we knew of it and it is happening Monday.

" I don't think its printable what I think of it. We have got a two metre wide pavement here, why couldn't we have arrows which pointed one way down one pavement and one way down the other? That seems quite simple doesn't it? If you can't pull up you aren't going to come down here."

Jeanette, who has been running the bakery and food shop for 12 years told Nub News: " We have been hurt so many times, with roads being changed, they have taken parking away, sold it all off. When the development was being talked about they told us about all the parking space we have - but they counted Radco, which is private parking.

" And now they are taking the last few parking spaces - allowing us two or three spaces up at the top of the road - but what happens when the big wagons come to deliver ? I can't see why they need to do it. This is the end of 12 weeks and we feel we are just coming out of it and now this? It's a kick in the teeth."

The statement from the traders is: BANES claim that the extra pavement space is needed to allow for social distancing. Pavements next to the parking spaces they propose to close are more than 2m wide and people have been able to social distance with no problem for the last 3 months. Bollards are also planned on the "old" side of Fortescue Road to prevent cars mounting the pavement. This will make it more difficult for people to social distance, as the pavement will be narrowed and confined by the bollards.

Many of the shops in Radstock are classified as essential and have stayed open to serve the local community throughout lockdown. They have spent time and money making sure that local people are safe and can access the supplies they need. Many people have told us how useful they have found this service.

The loss of the parking spaces will mean that people are discouraged from using Radstock's local shops, putting the future of the High Street at risk. Traders feel that the measures proposed are unnecessary and are being imposed with no consideration for the needs of Radstock's people. BANES have made no attempt to work with traders or to help the High Street through these challenging times. Government tells us they are working to support the High Street – someone please tell BANES!"