A popular village pet shop is closing down because of parking problems, rising waste removal costs and the impact of the credit crunch.
After giving up selling animals last year, Susan Hayward, owner of Harefield Pets and Grooming, is now, after 10 years, shutting her pet shop business to concentrate just on grooming.
Mrs Hayward said: "Since the changes to the road lay-out in the High Street, people cannot park outside the shop, and you certainly need to, if you are carrying big 25 kilo bags of feed or cat litter.
"I noticed the difference immediately when the High Street changed. My business went down by a third and is still going down.
"I agreed with HiIlingdon Council's original plan but they came up with a new one, with no parking in front of the shop, when previously there was room for about three cars.
"It doesn't help that the council charges me £400 a quarter to collect my refuse. When I started here a decade ago, it was half that."
Mrs Hayward said she has also noticed a change in spending recently, with fewer customers and people using their credit cards less.
They still take their dogs regularly for grooming, but some leave longer intervals between sessions.
She said: "I have loved my time in the pet shop, particularly when we used to sell rabbits, guinea pigs, kittens and fish, but if you don't sell them, they still have to be fed and cleaned out.
"That takes time, and time is money."
Roger Bryant, of Peerless Drive, said: "It will be a shame to see the village's pet shop close. We have used it for things like cats' collars, but of course supermarkets sell pet products and big stores do tend to affect small businesses.
"It makes you think what could happen if a Tesco came to the village."
Changes will take place after Christmas when builders move in to alter the premises.
Pauline Crawley, who chairs Harefield Tenants' and Residents' Association said she hoped the grooming business would be a success: "It has been nice to have a traditional pet shop in the village, and I have used it in the past, but we wish the grooming side lots of success in the future."
