New signs will be installed in an effort to clear up confusion over parking restrictions in Staple Hill.

Following talks with traders and Councillor Shirley Potts, South Gloucestershire Council has agreed to put in the signs in High Street and Broad Street.

Traders had argued that shoppers were confused about the on-street parking restrictions. A two-hour stay with no return within three hours applies to the spaces outside the shops.

But traders say customers were unsure which areas of the shopping street they were permitted to return to within three hours, with some receiving parking tickets. Now the council will introduce signs to mark out two parking zones, understood to be one for High Street and one for Broad Street, and the no return parking restrictions will apply to each zone. Roger Mortimer, proprietor of Armchair Carpets, said before the council took over parking enforcement from the police in 2007, the no return rule had applied to individual parking bays rather than zones. He said the change to parking zones had not been made clear and shoppers were confused by it.

Steve Knowlson, spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council, said: "The council has been in discussions with traders, and the local member, regarding how to make it clear what restrictions are in place in what particular areas, and it is planned to erect signs shortly in this regard. The council promotes town centre areas like Staple Hill by providing free short-stay and long-stay parking."