PARKING officials have apologised to businesses after their customer bays were taken away by mistake.

Firms in Lonsdale Street, in Stoke, have been campaigning for more short-stay parking on their road.

So they were shocked when Stoke-on-Trent City Council contractors turned up last week and proceeded to swap the customer parking for permit-only spaces.

It means customers have not been able to park outside the businesses for days.

But council officials today admitted the new signs had been put up by mistake.

Councillor Brian Ward, pictured, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "Unfortunately a mistake has been made by contractors who have been updating road signs and lines in the Lonsdale Street area.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

"Parking restrictions have not changed in the bay. The mistake is being rectified as a priority."

Businesses had already complained that the customer bay, which has five spaces for four businesses, is putting off customers and suppliers. The rest of the street is resident-only parking.

Jezz Lally, who owns electrical shop Chromavision, said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw the sign go up.

"We have been asking for more customer parking and have told the council we are losing business because people have nowhere to park.

"Most of the residents' bays are empty all day and could be used by customers. All the side streets have double yellow lines. People can't get near us.

"The council should be helping businesses during a recession.

"It's a mess. The council has not listened to us about the parking and it looks like they don't care."

William Osborne, owner of Ozz Sound and Lighting, said: "Customers and suppliers won't give me the time of day because they can't park here.

"Its so confusing because there are so many unusual lines and different signs. People have got fines and won't come back.

"I'm over the moon that we will get the spaces back, but we still need more flexibility on the parking issue."

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Mark Fisher, whose constituency office is on the same road, is behind the residents' campaign.

He said: "I'm glad it has been sorted out.

"Taking away these spaces would have been very damaging to the businesses, which would have been madness when the council is trying to regenerate Stoke town centre.

"There is a shortage of parking in the area. Now would be a good time for the council to consult with the businesses and residents and look again at the situation here."

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