A NEWSAGENT says overzealous traffic wardens are damaging his business.

Trade has already suffered at News Plus, in East Street, Colchester, due to new nearby automatic railway crossing gates, which cause traffic to back up – meaning drivers take other routes.

Chitranjan Patel’s shop took another blow as a traffic warden issued at least three customers with £70 fines for briefly parking in a layby outside, on Friday.

Mr Patel said he did not mind double yellow lines in the layby – a regular stopping place for shop users – but if a customer had only popped in for a few seconds, the warden should show some discretion.

The 53-year-old said: “If the traffic warden gives them two minutes, it’s not going to be harmful for anyone. It’s an understanding between the traffic warden and the people who park the car.”

Mr Patel, who has run News Plus for 16 years, said trade had been lost due to the warden’s actions.

Andy Pearson, who owns AP Engineering, a Colchester garage, was one of the customers hit with a £70 fine. The 36-year-old, who said he had popped into the shop for 30 seconds, had thought you could park on double yellows for two minutes.

He said: “I just thought that’s another nail in their coffin, if they put a traffic warden in a layby everyone has used for 20-odd years and start giving out £70 fines to everyone.”

Mr Pearson said he would pay the fine “over my dead body”, adding the council was just trying to make money.

Richard Walker, parking services manager at Colchester Council, said the double yellow lines, which meant no waiting at any time, did not prevent loading, but loading was restricted to taking items to or from a vehicle or property nearby.

“All other activities, for instance making a purchase, ceases to be loading and a penalty notice is enforceable,” he said. “Colchester Council is committed to ensuring motorists are parked legally for the safety and convenience of everyone.”

Parking restrictions are put into force by Essex County Council and in Colchester, the borough council enforces them.

Nicola Spicer, an Essex County Council spokesman, said: “The section of road where motorists have been receiving tickets is not a layby, just a slightly wider part of the road.

“If these restrictions were to be lifted, parked cars would prevent the businesses on the road from receiving their deliveries.”