Defiant traders have lodged an official protest over moves to do away with parking spaces in Braintree's Market Place as part of a major renovation scheme for the town centre.

Removal of the town's historic fountain in the Market Square last Thursday signalled the start of refurbishment designed to bring a cafe-style culture to the heart of Braintree.

The fountain, donated to the town in 1882 by textile giant George Courtauld, has been dismantled and taken away for renovation to be reinstated later in its former glory.

Meanwhile over the next few months the surrounding area will be revamped with the aim of providing a safer, more attractive, continental style environment, complete with tables and chairs for outdoor dining. But despite more than £500,000 being invested in the scheme, nearby traders are unhappy and fear loss of valuable parking bays in Market Place will hit business.

They are objecting against moves to do away with 12 of the existing 18 'stop and go' parking spaces, leaving six for disabled parking only.

Following their opposition the proposed traffic order changes for Market Place will now have to go to Braintree council's next area committee meeting for consideration.

Sylvia Thorogood, who has a model shop in Market Street, said stop and go parking was "vital" to a small market town.

"Free short term parking is what brings people into a small market town like ours. It is particularly important for the independent traders like ourselves that customers can just pop in for a short time and don't have to pay to park."

Other traders also voiced concerns at a special meeting with council chiefs held to discuss the scheme, which will include new wider pavements, street lighting and furniture and special licences for tables and chairs outside cafes and pubs.

Shopkeepers said they were worried about the risk of increased vandalism if tables and chairs remained outdoors until late at night.

Braintree council cabinet member for development and regeneration, Michael Gage said concerns about how the cafe culture would work and policing of the area in the evenings had been taken on board. "We hope to strike a balance between enabling people to enjoy this area and at the same time protecting local premises and the environment," he said.

The main work on repaving the area is due to start on February 7 and the project is due to be finished by June this year. Project manager Mr Barry Mills said opposition to the prohibition order should not hold up the work.

Published Friday January 21, 2005

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