SHOP owners fear they may have to close if plans to put double yellow lines outside their premises are approved.

Traders on the Neasham Road parade, in Billingham, say that unless a car park is included in the plans they will lose business to supermarkets in the town, which have places for customers to park.

The plans for double yellow lines are on the adjacent Tunstall Avenue and Satley Road, where Stockton Borough Council says its is becoming congested and buses are finding it difficult to manoeuvre.

Shop owners say they have no problem with the lines, providing the council also plans a small car park.

Mike Stead, who has run a butchers shop in the precinct for 29 years, said: "There is plenty of space to build a car park here. A lot of people use their cars to come here and if they can't do that we face losing them.

"We are the only precinct in Billingham without a car park and there is a great community spirit at these shops. If a car park cannot be created we may lose that spirit."

More than 700 people have signed a petition asking for a car park.

People living in nearby Wingate Avenue and Shadforth Drive fear their narrow streets will become congested with traffic that cannot park outside the shops.

Sarah Bolton, whose family owns an off-licence in the parade, said: "Our main worry is that the supermarkets in town all have somewhere for people to park and our customers will just prefer to go there, where it is easier to park.

"We have been here 23 years and all that will be gone if we are unable to get a car park."

David Lynch, traffic management team leader for Stockton Borough Council, said: "The waiting restrictions were required to ensure parking did not obstruct traffic flows, particularly for buses.

"We were already undertaking a traffic study on Tunstall Avenue, which would include the possibility of off-road parking.

"In view of the shop owners comments, we will not make any decision on waiting restrictions until the practicality of off-street parking has been determined."