Business owners have forewarned the death of the village after changes to parking restrictions.

Shop owners have reported a sharp downturn in business since Merton Council altered parking charges in Church Road about three weeks ago.

The new restrictions include:

  • an increased hourly rate;
  • free parking reduced from 20 to 10 minutes;
  • maximum stay reduced from two hours to one hour; and
  • no parking at all (7-10am and 4-7pm).

Edward Foley of Winkworth Estate Agents said the no stopping rule made it difficult for businesses to receive deliveries, while the one-hour maximum stay meant shoppers would spend less time – and money – in the area.

He said: “None of us knew about it. If we had known, the whole street would have voted against it.

“Times are tough here like anywhere else and these new restrictions are strangling the high street as well as those who shop here – it’s just a really heavy blow to everyone.”

Debbie Beaumont of Beaumont Interiors said shoppers were turning to Chelsea, Kensington and Dulwich where parking is cheaper.

She said: “Turnover is dropping, shops are shutting and business rates keep on increasing.

“People have to be aware that sooner or later they will have no shops – it will be the death of the high street.”

Meanwhile frustration was also directed at the council’s plans to introduce four new mobile enforcement vehicles to the borough.

Owner of fashion shop Valentina, Antoinette Pullicino, said over-zealous parking attendants using unmarked vans were scaring people away.

She said: “It’s like having Gestapo all over the place. People are getting tickets and saying they won’t come back.”

Merton Council said new restrictions and enforcement units, which were not legally required to be marked, were part of an attempt to reduce congestion in the narrow road.

"It also claimed businesses were consulted on the issue a year ago.

A council spokeswoman said: “While we are not aware of any evidence of shopping patterns in the village being adversely affected by current parking tariffs, the council is to conduct a review of on and off street parking charges and we will be consulting businesses and residents in the near future.”

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