Plans to pedestrianise Whitchurch town centre would spell doom for traders who are struggling against “the worst recession in living memory”, a business leader has warned.

Lynton Macrae, from the Whitchurch Chamber of Trade and Whitchurch Action Group, said closing High Street and Green End to traffic on Fridays and Saturdays would have a “dire” effect on businesses operating from those areas.

The warning comes after the Whitchurch Town and Parish Plan group announced several suggestions to improve the town, including pedestrianisation.

The group is in the process of formulating the plan, which will act as a guideline for development in the town over the next five to 10 years.

Mr Macrae, who collected more than 50 signatures from business owners against the idea of pedestrianisation, said: “If people can’t get their vehicles on the High Street they won’t come again.

“We had awful problems last year with ParkRight and we have missed customers who are too scared to park now in case they get fined.”

Sue Simper, secretary to the parish plan group, said: “The idea to pedestrianise came up on our initial survey, it’s not a direct proposal.

“As far as the parish plan is concerned we collect views from everyone we can and what they say will then form the basis of the plan,” she added.