THE owners of a York business claim increasingly tight parking restrictions outside their showroom of 21 years are making trading impossible.

Beverley and Malcolm Stokes, owners of York Window & Kitchen Design, say they are constantly "harassed" by traffic wardens as they attempt to load and unload deliveries at their Blossom Street showroom.

The couple have attempted to contact officials at City of York Council parking office to discuss their concerns but say they are "always unavailable".

Mrs Stokes said "We have traded in Blossom Street for 21 years. I firmly believe we are being harassed by the council. Parking tickets are just handed out on a daily basis. It is ridiculous."

Blossom Street has double yellow lines and businesses are prohibited from loading and unloading between 8.15am and 9.30am.

Mr and Mrs Stokes now start work at 7am in an attempt to get their lorries loaded before the traffic wardens appear.

"When we came here 21 years ago there were no restrictions whatsoever and they have crept up on us with no consultation," said Mrs Stokes.

"They are creating more problems than there ever were. The last six months have been horrendous.

"They have taken away all our access to our business. We need to load up big, heavy windows. Our men are in and out as soon as they possibly can."

Mrs Stokes said customers no longer visited their showroom as there was little parking nearby and the cost of what does exist continues to rise.

A council spokeswoman said: "In the last few months, we have become more vigilant about enforcing the loading restrictions, especially on major routes into York, because those who ignore the regulations cause traffic congestion. But we do not issue tickets to anyone who is loading or unloading during the permitted hours."

She said the loading restrictions had been in place in Blossom Street for some time.

Updated: 10:48 Wednesday, June 16, 2004