A new sign was put up last week by Bassetlaw Council to remind members of the public who use the Newgate West Street long stay car park that they would have to park elsewhere on market days.

Car parking spaces are off limits for non-permit holders on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays after the council reinforced the restrictions on the car park use.

But those who regularly pay their daily £2.40 to park up are angry that the council is forcing them to park elsewhere - even though there are regularly free spaces.

Gillian Stevens, who has run Chiropody and Beauty on Newgate Street, for over 10 years, is worried about the effects of the council's decision on the top of town.

"I have clients come from Mansfield and Retford and if they can't park nearby, they won't come," she said.

"I thought we were supposed to be trying to encourage people to the top of town but restrictions on the car park aren't going to help."

"When I looked in the car park at about 11.45am, there were 32 spaces. You would expect the market traders to have arrived by that time."

Another car park user, who did not give her name, said: "The car park is so often empty that it seems a strange decision by the council."

"I pay £2.40 a day to park there and that is money the council will no longer be making."

Bassetlaw Council's town centre manager, Russell Slater said: "For many years there has been a sign fixed at the entrance to the Newgate Street West car park stating that parking is reserved for market traders and permit holders on market days."

"Demand for parking by market traders has increased and to draw the attention of motorists to the long-standing restriction we have introduced an additional freestanding sign."

"As part of the deal of renting a stall on the market, the traders are given a car parking space."

"Since the council took over regulating on-street parking, there are also people having to look for alternative spaces to where they have parked previously."

"We have reinforced the regulations to make sure that market traders have no problem parking."