Roxboro Residents Pound Pavement In Protest Over Asphalt

"They say it will take 18 months for the construction, so that in itself, would probably kill us," restaurant owner Beverly Whitlow said.

Whitlow and other Roxboro entrepreneurs spent Wednesday, protesting the proposed building of the police station. Some business owners want the city to build somewhere else or not at all.

"There's not enough on street parking to take care of everyone and on days that we have court that consumes the majority of the parking uptown," business owner Kerry Craft said.

The police chief says they do not have any storage space or adequate office space. The police department currently rents a portion of the building that is owned by Sprint. Sprint officials want the officers to move out.

Councilman Wally Burke said that means the city had to act fast and the parking lot makes the most sense.

"We can save around $300,000 by using the parking lot. It's a decision we made for the entire population in the city of Roxboro, not just a few people," he said.

The plan to build the police station on the parking lot passed by only one vote. Business owners hope they can convince the council to re-vote.