More parking spaces could be marked out along Fulham Road and some double yellow lines painted over, in a bid to encourage customers to the area's independent shops.

Shop owners say a lack of bays and tough parking enforcement, including parking tickets issued from CCTV cameras, has pushed away trade and intensified the impact of the recession.

Some businesses say takings are down by as much as 40 per cent and up to 30 shops have folded in the the last year, raising the prospect of a wipe-out of independent shops without help.

On Tuesday at a productive meeting with the council's head of parking, traders were told the parking arrangements will be reviewed by the end of August raising the prospect of new bays in Fulham Road and the surrounding streets.

"The lack of cheap parking has a huge impact on our businesses," says David Sandercock of children's clothes and shoe store Pollyanna's.

"If someone gets a ticket, especially via a camera, they will never come back to shop here. Equally how can they shop in their own time if they have to keep an eye on their car. We're competing with Westfield, Tesco's and other complexes with their own parking and we need all the help we can get at this time."

Local MP Greg Hands and local councillor Greg Smith have lent their support to the traders, promising to help alleviate the burden of parking enforcement and restrictions.

Welcoming the pledge of a review of existing double yellows and new bays, Mr Sandercock said the measures would go a long way to wooing people back to the street which is home to dozens of independent shops.

"We give the area its character, take it away and Fulham Road is just any other high street, but I think the local politicians support our argument. We will wait with baited breath to see what they do."

He said the issue of CCTV-issued tickets was harder to unpick as the police also use the cameras to prevent crime.

A H&F council spokesman said: "We have an excellent relationship with the small businesses on Fulham Road and will be looking at ways to ease the parking problems that have been damaging trade. We have also recently helped traders to set up the hugely popular ‘I Love Fulham’ loyalty cards and will continue to work closely with local businesses in the area during these tough economic times."

Photo: David Sandercock outside his shop, Fulham Rd