BUSINESSES in Shenfield are reporting a drop of 20 per cent in sales since Crossrail works began at the start of the year – and the loss of car parking is being blamed.

Traders have now been urged by the council to park their cars away from the town centre inabid to boost shopper numbers.

Friars Avenue car park has lost 42 of its 62 spaces due to being taken up by Crossrail as a base for work which is currently seeing vegetation being trimmed back along the line, beforeaplatform extension begins at the station.

The limited parking left in the town now means the majority of spaces are being taken up by car park season ticket holders and those commuting into London, leaving no space for shoppers .

Brentwood Council is in talks with a number of private parking areas to find an urgent solution for the problem.

Kaye Thurgood, who runs Sincerel y Yours, in Hutton Road, and is also part of the Shenfield Central Business Trade Cluster, said it was becoming a huge frustration.

Shenfield councillor Graeme Clark added: “The people who pay for season tickets from this council and who work in Shenfield are in before 9am and park in the remaining spaces, whic h means that shoppers can’t get in once the shops are open.”