Drivers arriving at a North Ayrshire car park were surprised to find almost half of the spaces have been turned into Disabled ones.
The decision was taken to create eight new bays, making 15 in total in the busy Chapelwell Street Car Park in Saltcoats.
But traders say this could be the death knell for their businesses as people without a disabled parking permit will have further to walk to visit the town centre.
They fear the upshot will be the shoppers will just keep driving and head to nearby towns instead.
One trader told Ayrshire Live: "We arrived for work and couldn't believe our eyes when all the spaces were gone behind the Bank of Scotland, it just doesn't make sense.
"People will just keep on driving and avoid the town centre all together, I cannot believe no one was consulted before this order was agreed by North Ayrshire Council."
But Councillor Jean McLung says she stands by the council's decision to grant the Traffic order has been put in place in Chapelwell Street Car Park.
"I have witnessed first hand irresponsible driving in Dockhead Street first hand and at times it is what I can only describe as chaotic," said the Saltcoats councillor.
"On one occasion I saw 50 cars driving in that street and it fills me with horror.
"I was approached by Saltcoats Community Council who were carrying out a parking survey in the town centre and the overwhelming response from the people that they asked was that traffic should be take off of Dockhead Street.
"For that reason a temporary Traffic order was put in place and it was decided that Chapelwell Street Car Park was the best location to put the disabled bays.
"I cannot understand why people are upset as this decision means that disabled people can still gain quick access to the town centre and the shops without parking on Dockhead Street itself."
A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: "The current arrangements for the Dockhead Street pedestrian zone allows access for Blue Badge holders at all times and loading by goods vehicles from 4.30pm to 10.30am.
"However, in recent years there has been an incremental increase in the volume of traffic entering Dockhead Street and, as a consequence, there has also been a rise in the number of complaints we have received relating to the volume of traffic and parking in Dockhead Street.
"Following a consultation exercise, it was agreed that to increase safety, no cars should be allowed to access Dockhead Street and a temporary order to formalise this new arrangement is expected to be introduced in the very near future.
"As a result, it is only right that we should make additional car parking spaces available for Blue Badge holders who may displaced by the new arrangement.
"As they are most in need of accessible parking, we have marked a number of additional bays in the Chapelwell Street Car Park for their use.
"Although this means a reduction of eight car parking spaces for general use, it should have little impact on drivers seeking a car parking space in Saltcoats which has in excess of 330 other car parking bays within a short walk of the town centre."
