A WORRIED shopkeeper says the new parking restrictions in Greenock are threatening businesses throughout the area.

Caroline Gibson, who runs Willie Gibson’s with her family in Union Street, says she has received hundreds of complaints from disgruntled customers who now struggle to park near her shop and in the surrounding streets.

She says Union Street and the adjacent George Square are now no-go areas jammed with cars because the streets are free from restrictions, unlike the town centre.

The problem is so bad that Caroline fears for her livelihood, with customers stating that they will travel elsewhere.

She told the Tele: “I have never heard so many people say that they won’t shop in Greenock any more — it’s causing chaos.

“They’ve been saying that it would be quicker and easier for them to shop at Braehead and that is what’s worrying me.

“I have spoken to loads of other businesses and retailers and we are all worried about it.

“Outside the shop there used to be a steady flow of cars with people parking then moving off but now we’re getting people parking from 8am to 6pm.

“We all agree that there is a parking problem but these new restrictions are not working as they have just moved the parking problem from the town centre to here.” Caroline says she now spends most of her days trying to explain the new parking rules to perplexed customers.

She said: “I’m constantly asked how the zones work.

“It’s also a nightmare for shops to get supplies of the discs to give to customers.” As well as shoppers, Caroline says residents are finding it impossible to get parked near their homes in Union Street, George Square, Kelly Street and Watt Street.

She said: “In George Square people can’t get parked and when they do they end up getting blocked in.

“One resident told me that it took them 45 minutes to get a space — they kept having to drive round and round the block to find one.” Inverclyde Council introduced a decriminalised parking enforcement scheme last week, with time limits and charges in places throughout Greenock town centre.

Some of the streets affected include Cathcart Street where a one-hour maximum stay has been introduced and in Clyde Square, where there is now ‘no parking or waiting’.

Meanwhile, the Bull Ring car park is subject to a maximum three hour stay while West Blackhall Street has a 30 minute time restriction.

The local authority today sought to reassure business owners and residents that the rules will benefit them in the long run.

A spokesman said: “We fully expect there to be a period of bedding-in while drivers get used to the new scheme, especially as some are existing rules which haven’t been enforced for some years and there are also new ones for people to get used to.

“If anyone isn’t sure about the new scheme, we have published a great deal of information on our parking pages on the council website which includes answers to frequently asked questions and a link for anyone who has been fined where they can check the detail of the offence online.

“Over 50,000 parking discs have already been distributed through the Greenock area, from council offices and participating shops and businesses.

“These must be used in areas clearly marked as disc zones in Greenock.

“The parking scheme has been designed to encourage a greater turnover of short term spaces to help local businesses.”