BUSINESS owners in Bookham have said their trade is being "destroyed" after parking restrictions were implemented outside their shops.
Traders in the row of shops in Beckley Parade have complained to Surrey County Council after a bus stop was installed with yellow lines, replacing a smaller stop that enabled parking.
The businesses claim the expansion is unnecessary, as the stop is served by buses only twice a day, with just "a handful" of passengers alighting there in any one week.
Lynda Freeman, business manager of Roxley Models which is situated outside the bus stop, said the issue had caused "serious distress" to shop owners.
She added: "A colleague and I just arrived one morning to find that grossly oversized bus stop, complete with yellow lines along the whole length of the parade, had been installed overnight.
"There was no consultation, no warning, no nothing from the council, even though we looked at the minutes of a committee meeting that said they had informed us all and we agreed to it."
She continued: "One of the main attractions to shopping in Beckley Parade was that customers could park easily and pop into the shop of their choice.
"Small businesses are struggling as it is and the implementation of these parking restrictions has already detrimentally affected trade at each of the shops in the parade."
Among the shops on the parade are a Chinese takeaway, a fancy dress shop, and a newsagents called Bungalow Stores, which was forced to send back half of its newspapers on the first day of the restrictions.
Shop worker Vijitha Radha said: "We are in despair as we really rely on passing trade but the drivers see the yellow lines and refuse to stop and come in.
"The difference in trade has been really noticeable and we are struggling. We can see from the store that the bus stop is hardly ever in use and it seems unnecessary.
"The council is destroying local businesses with actions like this. We didn't get a letter or an e-mail or anything and it is not fair."
The parking restrictions were installed by the county council on February 28.
Joy Ridley, a spokeswoman for Surrey County Council, said: "While we are always keen to support business, our prime concern here was residents' safety.
"This followed complaints that parked cars and delivery trucks were preventing buses from reaching the kerb, forcing passengers to stand in the road.
"To help retailers we amended the hours from the original proposal so that the prohibitions start later, finish earlier and do not apply on Saturdays."
