RESIDENTS facing a parking charge headache near their homes have been given a temporary reprieve by the council – but traders are still adamant that restrictions will damage their already struggling businesses.

People living in flats behind South Woodford Health Centre criticised the council for removing parking bays reserved for residents when the car park was last resurfaced, which was then compounded by the introduction of parking charges, which started operating today (Monday, July 19).

However, after some eleventh-hour negotiations the residents have been given temporary permits for use in six bays in the car park, with plans to introduce a permanent solution by the time the permits expire.

Sunita Kanda, 43, was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and has a 23-year-old with reduced mobility. She said: “We're really pleased because it is a victory for us. We're pleased that the council listened to us and understood why were so worried.

“The council have said that after the month is up they will put a barrier in to stop other people parking there and we won't have to have the permits any more.

“We've always said they we don't mind them putting in the meters, we just wanted residents permits so we could park near our homes.”

However, traders on a struggling parade of shops opposite the health centre have hit out at the charges, which they say will drive customers away from their shops which have already been hit by the recession.

John Russell, who runs the branch of Oxfam on South Woodford High Road, 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."

Alan Crownhurst, whose family has run Gales Cameras next door for nearly 40 years, 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.”