ANGRY shopkeepers reckon traffic chiefs are suffering from a double dose of yellow fever.

With work underway on the Shuttle Street diversion, shopkeepers in Tyldesley's east end say roadside marking plans have left them gutted.

Cutting Milk Street out of the through traffic layout means Shuttle Street traffic will continue through to Common Lane and Manchester Road via a new road.

Which means the current short two-way stretch of Elliott Street, from Common Lane to Milk Street, will be one-way like the rest of the main drag.

But plans are to paint double yellow line 'no parking at any time' restrictions along that short stretch which is the widest part of the through route.

Tyldesley Car Spares boss Dave Garnett claimed: "They don't need double yellow lines now, so why change? It's ludicrous. This stretch of Elliott Street will be the only place that's got double yellow lines. Yet it's the widest part of the street.

"Businesses here will only be on view to people travelling in one direction.

"I'd like to know what advantages the new road layout will bring. Vehicles will still have a tight left hand turn at the top of Common Lane."

His business partner Dennis Owen said: "The Council is supposedly trying to boost the town's image and trade, but this is a backward step. At a time when the town's traders are having a hard time you think they would rethink this idea.

"We are being unfairly penalised. They don't have these double yellow restrictions in front of other premises where the road is much narrower."

A spokesman for Wigan Council explained:"If the shopkeepers are concerned they should contact the Borough Engineer. If they outline any problems we will investigate."

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