FURIOUS traders have threatened legal action over a controversial traffic ruling for Clitheroe.

Last week the Lancashire Local committee for Ribble Valley voted in favour of a traffic regulation order that bans waiting and loading on Moor Lane, although limited waiting will be introduced.

Loading and disabled parking bays will also be added.

Council bosses hailed the narrow verdict as the end of the long-running dispute, but chamber president Nigel Pratt claimed the decision was taken despite widespread opposition and said he was trying to reverse it.

At the meeting traders told the committee the move would hit their businesses and Mr Pratt claimed the loading bay was in the wrong place. Speaking afterwards, he said: “The councillors voted on a narrow margin to accept a traffic regulation order that was objected to by almost everyone — ourselves, the parking committee, the borough council, town councillors, residents and individual traders.

“There was not a single voice in favour. The outcome is that Moor Lane, one of the busiest shopping areas has lost over 40 per cent of its short-stay free parking.

“The debate has been ongoing for so long because the traders and residents had rejected these plans as unwanted.

“The chamber is taking legal advice on this matter to decide if anything can be done to reverse this decision.”

At the meeting, county council engineers said the plans had been developed in response to concerns about pedestrian safety and damage to footways caused by vehicles.

A motion to reject the order was defeated, and the committee, which includes county and borough councils, gave it the green light in a separate vote.