TRADERS have hit back at campaigners who are lobbying the council to increase parking.

Dave Brown and Eileen Harding have launched the Can't Park, Won't Shop campaign following reductions to car parking in Gravesend town centre.

The pair designed car stickers and posters in a bid to get the council to increase parking.

But traders say the campaign is punishing them because they believe its message was about not shopping in Gravesend.

They say there is no point in lobbying the council as they are committed to the changes being made.

Instead traders have urged shoppers, commuters and retailers to consider their part in keeping Gravesend alive.

Andrew Marshall, owner of Lumar Jewels, in High Street, Gravesend, says he welcomes anyone who is trying to solve the parking problem but the campaign gives a negative message.

He has spoken to Mr Brown and Mrs Harding and told them he did not like the impression the signs were giving.

Mr Marshall has urged shoppers to consider shopping at weekends when car parks are not being used by office workers and commuters.

Martin Allen, director of Allen Carpets, in Windmill Street, says shoppers need to spend more time trying to find car parking.

He believes retailers and commuters are clogging up car parks and need to find alternatives.

He said: "We have to make the best of what we have got."

Mr Marshall said: "To me the campaign is punishing traders, it's not going to help parking issues."

On the back of negative comments, the campaign has been toned down to just Can't Park, with the message: "We need to park to shop".

COUNCIL SURVEY SAYS:

On November 10, a council survey found more than 200 car parking spaces are empty at peak times across Gravesend. Carried out between 10.30am and 11.30am, it discovered: l 70 empty long-term places at Milton Place car park; l 108 empty short-term places in the town centre, including Peacock Street, Saddington Street, Overcliffe and East Terrace; l 39 empty short-term places in St George's centre and Thamesgate.

Lead member with responsibility for environment, leisure and public space Councillor Lee Croxton said: "We need to assure visitors to Gravesend even at peak times there are still many empty short-term places for shoppers and long-term places for workers."