TRADERS have given a unanimous thumbs down to plans for a one-way system in Callington, saying it could be the death knell to their businesses.

Shopkeepers say that the £140,000 supermarket giant Tesco has contributed to town centre improvements should be spent on reducing car parking charges not on a 'complicated traffic system' that will 'drive people away'.

Their views were expressed at a meeting called by Callington Portreeve Karen Gold on Monday night, to find out what businesses would like to see to make the town more attractive to shoppers.

The general feeling among traders is that since Tesco opened on the edge of town in August, the town centre has been quieter. 

Callington Town Council has been working with Cornwall Council on a traffic management scheme which was first talked about more than a decade ago, to make the town safer for cars and pedestrians.

But at the meeting on Monday some traders said it would be a 'waste of money' — and a petition against the scheme from businesses in Church Street was handed to the town council.

Steve Pridham, of Pridham's electrical store, said he had traded in Callington for 35 years and he remembered two previous attempts to introduce a one-way system in Callington, but neither was a great success and were scrapped.

The latest proposals include making Church Street one-way up and Well Street one-way down, partial pedestrianisation at the eastern end of Fore Street by the traffic lights, with only buses having access, increasing the number of on-street parking and loading bays and putting in cycle stands.

A consultation period on the proposals ends tomorrow (Friday).

Mr Pridham said: 'The number one issue for traders in Callington is the parking charges and as it looks as if the car parking fees in the town centre car park are going up from 20p to 50p or even 80p for the first hour.

'It's a no-brainer what the money should be spent on.

'If people have to pay 50p to pop into town or go to Tesco and get free parking there is no contest.

'The money from Tesco should go towards reducing the cost of parking, giving the first 30 minutes free for short term shoppers.

'Coming up with a wonderful, pretty scheme with its new road surfaces and spending £145,000 on it does not seem sensible to me — it's a waste of money.'

Robert Langton from the Pasty Shop in Church Street said he understood that making the pavements wider and the road one-way would be safer — but livelihoods were at stake.

'Things are quiet enough as it is — Tesco has affected everyone, but I am going to lose 50% of my passing trade if Church Street is made one way.

'I just cannot afford the gamble with my livelihood'.

Cornwall councillor and member of the town council Andrew Long said the plan had been to utilise as much from the Tesco development to enhance and regenerate the town centre as possible.

'The town council looked at a one-way system but the town traders have said it will not do them any good. This is part of the consultation process.'

He said he was organising a meeting between the traders and the Cornwall councillor responsible for transportation to show the strength of feeling about the proposed car parking increases, which he also strongly opposed.

Project engineer for Cornwall Council Alistair Uglow said a wide range of views had been expressed so far for and against the scheme, which would be carefully considered before any decision was made.

He said any significant change to the town enhancement scheme would have to be approved by Tesco.