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BOXED IN CLAIM: Colin Baugh and Yas Maybank with fellow protesters in Stour Road

Despite detailed discussions with the council last summer before work began on the Barrack Road junction improvement scheme, owners say they were not told about the yellow lines proposals until a public notice was posted earlier this month.

Now they are organising a petition to protest against the imposition of double lines extending some 130 yards along both sides of Stour Road from the junction taking in the frontage and forecourts of five guest houses and several properties converted into flats.

Highway engineers say the parking ban is needed to ensure enough space for two lanes of traffic to queue on approach to the traffic lights but opponents claim it will rob the guest houses of passing trade and push parking on to adjoining roads.

And with developers already knocking on the door there are fears many guest houses, already reeling from the loss of business during the roadworks, will close and be converted into even more flats if visitors are forced to drive on by.

"There has already been a major downturn in trade since the work started and while our revenue has gone down our rates have gone up," said guest house proprietor Colin Baugh.

"We bring people in to the town but people will not stop here if they can't park outside, but will carry on down the road to Bournemouth."

Guest house owner and Christchurch Tourism Association chairman Yas Maybank said: "It is not just us but the whole economy and the community of Christchurch that will be affected."

7:00pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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