THE damaging effect on trade caused by the A338 roadworks and hour-long parking restrictions was spelled out to councillors at a meeting with Bournemouth town centre traders.

Retailers told civic chiefs the town centre needed their support to maximise visitor numbers and sales during the crucial pre-Christmas months.

Top of traders' wish list is amendments to the parking meters along Westover Road and the surrounding area, which only enable people to park for up to an hour.

Others expressed concern over the proliferation of double yellow lines around the town centre and asked for some subsidised parking in the run-up to Christmas and the provision of a park and ride in the future.

Councillors Bob Chapman, Angela Manton and John Hayter listened to traders' experiences and a selection of retailers have now been invited to attend a council meeting next Monday where their ideas will be discussed more fully.

Afterwards, retailers said they were "extremely positive" for the future, provided the council takes their views on board and continues to listen to them.

Simon Snell, manager of Charles Fox Jewellers, said: "I certainly left the meeting thinking 'We're getting somewhere here, the councillors are listening.'

"The town centre is currently facing a number of issues so this meeting was a good opportunity to raise concerns and share ideas."

And Brie Logan, manager of Marks and Spencer, said: "There was obviously quite a lot of emotion in the room as to what the council is doing to protect the retail business during our key period of time.

"But I felt that all the comments were taken on board and that the councillors wanted to work with us."

First published: Oct 6