TRADERS say that new parking schemes could combine to kill Darwen Market.

In December, Blackburn with Darwen Council enforced a two-hour time limit on the top and middle level of the car park and now a consultation is underway to bring in disc parking throughout the town.

Both ideas are aimed at freeing up more spaces for customers.

But market traders say that the two schemes would strangle the market because customers are scared of getting tickets.

With disc parking, motorists will have to place a disc on their window set to the time they arrived.

Wardens on patrol will then be on the lookout for any cars which have been left for longer than permitted and those motorists would face a fixed penalty notice.

Brenda Cronshaw, who runs Brenda's Collectables on the three-day market, said: "The parking situation is a nightmare, in one word.

"We don't want disc parking or restrictions. We need the time allowance shifting up to three hours as well because people don't have the time they need to browse.

"The market car park restriction is killing trade, and if disc parking comes in, it will kill it completely.

"They say that they like experiments, this council, so I want them to experiment with doubling the time restrictions for one month, then they will see the difference it makes.

"I think the problem is that nobody fully understands the impact disc parking will have."

Denise Gee, who runs Gee's Fruit and Veg stall on the three-day market, said: "We don't want disc parking and we need three hour parking on the market car park.

"I was on the committee that discussed bringing in the restrictions on the market car park because the top level was being abused by commuters, but two hours is too little.

"The disc system has been tried in other places like Accrington and failed. Why do we want something that hasn't worked only a few miles down the road?

"Customers have come in and grumbled about what's going on. They're not using the parking spaces because they're so scared they'll get a fine.

"We need to advertise the fact we've got free parking, not discs."

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of Blackburn with Darwen council, said: "Disc parking has worked very well in places like Penrith for years.

"It's a scheme to get people moving into the town more easily.

"And surely you can do whatever you want in two hours in Darwen?"

Blackburn with Darwen Council is consulting with residents, traders and motorists about disc parking until February 29.