The segregation of businesses bet- ween Brisbane and Bourke streets from the festival’s Peel St hub will be hotly debated at the annual debrief.

The absence of a plan to counter the loss of foot traffic in the block as a result of Brisbane St opening to vehicles has hit the bottom lines of many business owners.

Tamworth Regional Council’s intention to open that section of the main street up to traffic next year has sparked fears they will forever be sidelined.

The Magic Pudding owner Sara Winston-Smith said the council could not ignore the concerns of retailers who have reported struggling through their least profitable festival.

“It just seems that council and the organisers – whoever is involved – is forgetting what the festival is all about,” she said.

“I thought it was to put Tamworth on the map as a tourist destination and promote all the things that we have to offer.

“Tamworth council needs to respond to all the issues that have been raised, not just by me but other business owners, over the last couple of weeks.”

Miss Winston-Smith said while opening the street to vehicles during festival could help her business, it would have a detrimental impact on other shop owners.

“Business owners are a team and promoting this block as a whole is more important than my individual business,” she said.

“Council needs to actually communicate what the plan is for next year.”

Tamworth mayor Col Murray was reluctant to be drawn into the furore, saying that shopkeepers would get a chance to air their views at the wash-up meeting.

However, he denied that the council’s plan to open that block of Peel St to traffic next year was set in stone.

“Quite a few of the councillors are very concerned about it, so it’s not a done deal,” Cr  Murray  said.