FED up Dursley traders have hit out over parking wardens “taking advantage of woolly regulations” and “sneakily” fining businesses while they are making deliveries.

For years, businesses and charities based in the centre of the town have been receiving tickets for parking in Parsonage Street while loading, despite a sign saying it is allowed.

They are now asking Gloucestershire County Council to take action on the issue, which is leaving businesses hundreds of pounds out of pocket and suppliers warning they may stop delivering to the town.

Frustrations were exacerbated when council representatives forgot to attend a meeting last week which was organised with dozens of traders to try and resolve the issue.

Denver Thirwell, sales director at Intersound Guitars and vice-chairman of Dursley Business Inclusive (DBI), said that at some point most traders in Parsonage Street had been affected.

“It is not even just the smaller businesses which are being given tickets,” he said.

“Not too long ago they booked an Iceland lorry while it was making a delivery.

“Most of us are small businesses and these tickets do have a horrible impact on all of us.”

In recent months two vehicles have been ticketed while making deliveries to Intersound Guitars – one when officers deemed putting cardboard from the shop into a van as not meeting the regulations and one when a ticket was issued because the delivery van’s doors were closed.

“Some of the parking officers are just taking advantage of the woolly regulations around parking,” Mr Thirwell added.

“Some are perfectly fine and fair whilst others will hide round the corner and sneakily give out tickets.”

Parking enforcement service is contracted out to APCOA but is overseen by the county council.

Jim Daniels, GCC’s parking manager, said: “There are restrictions in place that prevent vehicles accessing Parsonage Street, but we appreciate that businesses need to have deliveries.

If they feel that the tickets have been issued incorrectly, they can appeal online, by email, or in writing.

Dursley Lions Club, for the past 12 weeks, had apparently been told to purchase a £10 parking waiver while loading for its weekly furniture sales, but a GCC spokesman said this was not necessary.