AN Evesham business owner has called for more understanding from traffic wardens who he says are “harrassing” him in the town’s Market Square.

Clive Sowerby, of the Shoe and Boot Company, a family firm established in 1927, has complained about the “aggressive” attitude of wardens.

He regularly uses the area which permits use by vehicles for loading and unloading purposes between certain times.

He said: “There needs to be more understanding about how difficult it is to run a business at the moment.

“Almost every shop on the Market Square is closed and we are just trying to earn a living. We don’t want to say farewell to Evesham, we want the store to stay open.

“My kids Joanna and Jack work there and they will be the next generation to take it on.

“The attitude is ludicrous; we get harrassed every day.

We are only there for a very short time and it is purely to load and unload stock.”

Mr Sowerby says that he owns another store in Stourbridge and lives near Kidderminster so he rarely gets to the shop before 11am. The problem has arisen because this is outside Wychavon’s designated time for vehicles to be on the Market Square.

It is designated as a pedestrian zone and has signs at the entrance stating that no parking is allowed at anytime.

However, loading is allowed between midnight and 10.30am and after 4.30pm to midnight from Monday to Saturday.

Traders use a phone system to lower the bollards blocking the entrance.

Christine Baxter, parking services manager at Wychavon District Council, said: “The times that the Market Square is open to traders gives them plenty of time to take and send deliveries.

“Signage is very clear and shows what times loading activities can take place.

“Outside of these times the area is pedestrianised so that shoppers can relax in a safe and vehicle-free square.

“We refute that our officers have harassed this individual when they simply asked that they follow the rules like all other traders.”