TRADERS in Chipping Sodbury have joined forces in protest at plans to shut down the town centre during the entirety of this year's Mop Fair.

More than 50 businesses have added their support to a petition against town council proposals for the fair on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29.

Councillors agreed to downsize the controversial fair and reduce the opening hours at a meeting last week.

But they caused uproar among traders by proposing to close all routes through the town centre to Wickwar Road car park during the event.

The closure, which will last all of Friday and Saturday, is to give way for a planned fairground ride at the junction of Wickwar Road and the High Street.

It will mean shoppers wanting to park in Chipping Sodbury will be diverted around the town along St John's Way.

Ralf Sainsbury, of The Ball of Wool, organised the campaign and said traders had been forced into action.

He said on behalf of the traders: "Whatever gains had been made by the business community with the downsizing of the fair will be lost in one fell swoop by this woeful decision.

"To close the Wickwar Road to vehicle access for the duration of the fair demonstrates to us the total lack of consideration the council gives to the needs of its traders.

"It would appear that the siting of a ride which will straddle this area is deemed more of a priority than our customers being able to have easy access to the car park."

Chris Tattom, manager of Blast Bikes, said: "During the Mop we always see a cut in trade.

"A road closure to the town's car park will only worsen the situation."

The council's proposals will see the mop sited from below the police station in the High Street to the bottom of Broad Street.

The fair's opening hours will be reduced to 6pm-10pm on the Friday and 2pm-10pm on the Saturday, ending half an hour earlier on both nights than past events.

Last September's event stretched to above the clock tower and featured a one-way system for traffic down the High Street.

Council clerk Cate Davidson said: "We have received the petition from traders in the town and members will be discussing the issue they have raised in the near future."