Shopkeepers fear their high street is becoming a ghost town because of a post office closure and the credit crunch.
Karan Singh, owner of Shop 'n' Post General Store in High Street, Northwood, says he has lost 50 per cent of his business since the post office in his shop closed in July.
He said: "The whole high street used to be a very busy road but it's not now, because there's nothing for people to come here for.
"People used to come to the post office and then go to other shops but they don't bother now.
"There's quite a few shops empty and a couple of business have relocated because of the post office going.
"The council should spend some money in the high street instead of refurbishing Green Lane because it already has its footfall."
Northwood councillor Scott Seaman-Digby said: "The high street is TfL owned so the reason we picked Green Lane is that it allows us to control the input, but there are plans to include the high street and Station Road in phase two. We have an ambition to link the high street with Green Lane using Hallowell Road to help bring it into the heart of Northwood and we will put a bid into TfL in the spring.
"We do recognise that losing the post office was a big blow."
The post office was closed in July along with six others in the borough.
Hatul Shah, owner of Carter Chemist, said: "My business is down about 15 per cent because of the post office closure and the credit crunch.
"All the other shops are in the same situation as well.
"The high street is nowhere near as busy as it was and I can't see it getting busier.
"I can see developers coming in and building flats."
Ruislip-Northwood MP, Nick Hurd, created the Sustainable Communities Act which came into force last month to help high streets.
He said: "It's a great shame the post office is gone, and the Act was brought in to give councils more powers to stop these kind of decisions."
