A MARKET Place restaurateur claims he lost a fifth of his trade on the busiest night of the week because of the closure of a council car park.

Steve Dauwalder of La Mollina tapas bar said businesses received letters, and notices were put up in the square, warning that parking there would be banned from 11pm on Saturday so the Charter Fair could be set up, ready for Monday.

“But the market square manager put up barriers and shut the car park at 6pm instead,” Mr Dauwalder said.

“I challenged him, and he said the letters were wrong. I encouraged him to look at one of the signs, and he said it was an error.

“I pointed out that the signs had been there for three weeks.

“I said it was not good enough, and would really damage our business. He told me they didn’t want cars left on the square overnight because they would get in the way next morning.

“But Saturday is our busiest evening, when we take about a third of our week’s income. I really don’t believe they needed to shut the car park that night.”

The car park is owned by Wiltshire Council, but the market square manager works for Salisbury City Council.

Mr Dauwalder said: “I spoke to Wiltshire and they said it was the city council’s fault. The city council said it was Wiltshire’s fault.

“To add insult to injury, there was a black tie event the same night at the Guildhall, which belongs to the city council, and cars were allowed to park on the Guildhall Square, even though that is also used by the funfair.”

He complained to Wiltshire and city councillor Paul Sample, who has asked the leaders of both authorities to meet traders to discuss future closures.

Cllr Sample said: “The fair does have a seriously detrimental effect on some businesses, and this needs to be minimised.

“We need to be helping traders at this difficult time. I can’t understand why it’s necessary to close the square so early when the fair doesn’t arrive until the following day.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “In order to ensure the car park was clear of cars for the fair on Sunday, it was necessary to close it on Saturday evening.

“Unfortunately the signs were incorrect. The car park has been closed at 6pm on the Saturday evening before the fair for the past eight years.

“We apologise for any inconvenience.”