ONLY six shops and restaurants around the village have decided to sign up to the HillingdonFirst card scheme.

Across the whole of Harefield more than 40 businesses are eligible to sign up for the scheme but demand has been low.

The council scheme began in July, and as well as working as a parking card, HillingdonFirst doubles as a discount card in shops.

But shops and businesses in the village remain uninterested.

David May, who runs the Village Bakery, in the high street, has not signed up. He said: "It's a waste of time; for the sake of 10 pence savings people aren't interested.

"I deal with the public every day and no one ever comes in and asks about it.

"The council are always wasting money on these schemes when they would be better off fixing potholes."

John Mullane, who runs The King's Arms, in Park Lane, was approached to sign up to the scheme but declined.

He said: "It wouldn't work. A lot of my business comes from outside Harefield and to ask my staff to calculate discount rates for certain customers in a busy bar would slow everything down."

The six businesses which have signed up are Oxy-Tan, Harefield Windows, Designer Life Coaching, Village Framing, Village Salon and Jet Home and Gifts.

Malcolm Baxter, who runs Village Framing, in the high street, offers 10 per cent off picture framing to HillingdonFirst card holders.

He said: "About 20 per cent of my customers have taken up the offer so far, but I believe that is because I have a big sign up in the store behind the till.

"It has not attracted anybody new in though. It could be a good initiative but people don't know about it, so what's the point?"

Amy Jordan, who runs OxyTan, also in the high street, offers half-price sunbed sessions and discounts on courses of treatment.

She said: "Not one person has taken advantage of the scheme in eight months and to be honest I'd forgotten I even signed up to it. I have a card myself but I only use it for parking."

But up in Ickenham, 14 businesses have signed up, 44 in Northwood and 93 in Ruislip.

Hillingdon Council says 385 businesses have taken up the scheme around the borough, exceeding expectations.

The card offers preferential rates for borough residents at leisure centres, refuse sites and when parking.

Councillor Douglas Mills, cabinet member for improvements, said: "Unsurprisingly, there has been more take-up from shops in the busier town centres and there have been no complaints from businesses or residents in Harefield.

"Of course we always welcome businesses from all areas of the borough to join the

scheme and as we plan for the second year of the card we will be consulting with local businesses to get their feedback on how we can further improve the scheme to increase the offer for residents." * Winning card or busted flush? Email editorial uxbridge@trinitysouth.co.uk.