York traders fear they could lose 30 per cent of their weekend trade after the city council announced plans to close one of its biggest car parks to coaches on one of the busiest days of the year.

Shop owners in Gillygate have complained that coach loads of people visiting the city for the annual St Nicholas Christmas Fayre will be forced to make their way into the city centre from St George's Field car park instead of from the usual St John's coach park - which takes them past their shops.

They claim allowing cars only to use the car park will rob them of hundreds of pounds worth of trade.

Normally 40 coaches can fit into the car park, which traders claim guarantees 2,000 shoppers will walk past their doors.

Patricia Farrand, owner of Caravan gift shop in Gillygate, said she relied on St John's car park for customers for trade, especially at Christmas.

"It's a vital part of our trade and in the run-up to Christmas we get most of our revenue from it," she said.

"It could mean disaster - we do rely to a large extent on the volume of traffic from the coach parks and when it's closed people will go elsewhere."

Ms Farrand, who has owned her shop for nine years, said she was also angry at the council for not telling them anything about the plans.

"The council should have consulted us about it so that we could register our concern - it's our bread and butter.

Trevor Fenwick, manager of the Glass House, in Gillygate, said: "There are three car parks in York and to reduce congestion they close one to coaches - it doesn't make sense."

Mr Trevor, who sells specialist glass ornaments, was also angry the council had not consulted him before making the changes.

But City of York Council has defended its decision, saying it had to introduce special car parking arrangements to deal with up to 100 coach loads of shoppers.

A spokesman said coaches carrying about 5,000 extra shoppers had choked the city when picking up and dropping off passengers in the past .

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