Shopkeepers in Hounslow claim a lack of parking is driving customers away, with business down by up to 45 per cent on last year.
Retailers in the parade of shops opposite Hounslow Bus Garage, just east of Hounslow High Street, say they have been hit particularly hard by the loss of spaces outside an empty office block opposite their businesses.
That pay and display car park was demolished by its owner Tesco to make way for new homes, for which planning permission is still needed.
To make matters worse, Tesco’s previous plans included a 287-space car park for shoppers but their latest proposal only contains parking spaces for use by those living in the new homes.
Vipul Limbachia, who runs Try Us Dry Cleaners with his wife Shrina, said: “Business last month was down by 45 per cent on the same period last year, and we believe most of that is down to customers being unable to park nearby.
“Customers are scared to park here, even to pick up their dry cleaning or buy a newspaper, because they think they’ll get a parking fine, and businesses are really suffering as a result.”
Traders, who submitted a petition to Hounslow Council last year, say they want more spaces to be provided, and a free half hour of parking made available to shoppers as is already the case in many other parts of the borough.
A council spokesman said: “As a business-friendly council, we’re reviewing where we can provide more parking spaces in addition to the existing parking and any other parking schemes in the borough.”
Meanwhile, shoppers have criticised the council for taking too long to fix broken pay-and-display machines in Bath Road, near Hounslow West tube station.
One driver said he was issued with a fine in the time it took him to walk to a working machine further up the road, though this was eventually overturned.
A council spokesman said: “Any faulty pay and display machines in Bath Road are being fixed and in the meantime tickets can be bought from any other machines on the road; or through the RingGo cashless system.”
