Vaughan Parker who owns Jewellery Unique in Swaffham claims to have lost trade due to meat truck parked outside shop

A Norfolk town’s jewellers claim to have lost trade in their busiest season due to a meat truck parked outside the shop.

Vaughan Parker, who owns Jewellery Unique in Swaffham, said his ongoing wrangle with the town council has hit his business hard over the festive period.

Nationwide Meats has been allowed by the council to park its lorry outside Mr Parker’s shop each weekend, which Mr Parker claims obscures the view of his storefront.

He said the truck has made a “huge difference” to footfall at what is usually the busiest time of year for the business.

The issue has been rumbling on for nearly nine months as Mr Parker has tried and failed to persuade the town council to relocate Nationwide Meats.

The business parks its truck outside Mr Parker’s shop when Swaffham hosts its town market each Saturday, with dozens of stalls selling goods such as food and clothing.

Its owners say they went through “all the correct channels” and were instructed to park in this location by the council – which has previously suggested the meat van would attract additional footfall to this area of town.

However, Mr Parker claims the van has caused his business to suffer over the festive season.

He said: “This monstrosity is still blocking my shop during the busiest month of the year and it has made a big difference to trade.

“I have had fewer customers than I usually do and some days where I had none at all.”

Mr Parker has continued appealing to the council and even approached his local MP Terry Jermy for support.

But the council has been unable to find a new location for the meat van despite Mr Jermy’s interventions.

Mr Parker said he was considering closing the shop on Saturdays and “didn’t know” what would happen to his business in the months to come.

He added: “I’ve got a difficult year ahead.”