TRADERS in a struggling parade of shops have hit out at the council for imposing parking charges, which they say could be final nail in the coffin for their flagging businesses.

Next Monday, Redbridge Council will start charging people to park outside South Woodford Health Centre, which is often used by people using row of shops on the other side of the High Road.

John Russell, who runs Oxfam charity shop, said: “The council is trying to kill us, they obviously don't care about these little shops along here.

“My donations and trade has already suffered in the last few months. It used to be that I would send excess stock to other branches, now I get sent it from elsewhere.

“People have to drive here so we rely on people being able to park to drop off donations, and people will be less likely to come.

“I dread to think what will happen when my volunteers start coming to work from Monday next week. I don't know how many of them are going to have to turn around and say they can't help out any more because they'll have to pay to park all day as well as spend money on petrol.

“Does the council not want out rates? Should we just shut up shop? They just don't seem to be thinking about what will happen if they make people pay to park. People won't bother.”

Alan Crowhurst, whose family has run Gales Cameras for around 40 years, said that the introduction of charges would be just another difficulty that his business would have to face.

He said: “Business is getting harder. You can blame some of it on the recession but it first took a hit when they put in the traffic lights and the railings.

“To a person who wants to come in an spend a couple of hundred pounds on a camera it probably won't make a different, but it will to someone coming into spend £2.50 on their processing.

“The main problem around here is parking, not just for me but the entire parade.”

Tony Angelo, who runs Hair Male barbers salon, said: “We didn't have any leaflets through our doors or anything.

“We were really shocked when we heard, for years its been free parking down there.”

Earlier this week, the Guardian reported on the plight of 43-year-old Sunita Kanda, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, and her 23-year-old daughter Meena, who suffers from a rare condition called lupus which severely restricts her mobility.

The family rely on the parking spaces to avoid having to park up to 15 minutes away from their maisonette, and have appealed to the council to offer permits to residents to alleviate the problem.

“It is Council policy to introduce charges in all public car parks in the borough.

“This one in South Woodford is the last of the free car parks to have charges applied, and notices indicating the intention to begin charging on July 19 were erected at various locations within the car park on July 11.

“It is acknowledged that this is a popular car park, well-used by motorists living in, working at or visiting the various premises on the site or close to it and it is hoped that it will continue to meet local parking needs.”