TRADERS at Cockington Court have raised concerns over plans to redevelop the Domesday village's picturesque building with Government Sea Change money.

Business tenants have raised concerns about the lack of parking and transport to the site.

Plans at present will reduce the number of spaces to only 62 with eight additional spaces reserved for disabled people.

Plans for the court are due to be considered today by Torbay Council planning committee with a recommendation the changes be approved.

Claire Mitchell (pictured), who runs Purist Natural Beauty at the court, said: "There is going to be a woeful lack of parking for the existing businesses let alone those which will be created by the new centre.

"The existing parking is quite inadequate and for it to be reduced to 60 spaces means there won't even be room for existing tenants.

"We need good parking and transport, that's vital. This is going to be a real squeeze on the existing tenants."

Another trader, who did not wish to be named, estimates 47 of them will be used by people working at the court.

He added: "They have increased the number of businesses while reducing the parking spaces, so there is increasing competition to the businesses which are already there."

The trader also believes the character of Cockington will be changed by the development and that the council has underestimated the number of visitors to Cockington Court.

He said: "People are unhappy, some of the crafts people are unhappy and we don't feel people know what will be happening there.

"It will be the opposite of what the Sea Change money was intended for."

The trader added that last Sunday on a wintry February morning there were 100 cars in the car park and at present there are in excess of 90 car parking spaces.

He said: "They are squeezing as much as they can in and they are over-developing the site.

"I would encourage those who know and love Cockington to look closely at the plans and understand what changes will be made."