HEADS should roll over a parking nightmare which risks driving traders out of a village, a shop owner says.

Planning guidelines recommend allowing 1.5 car parking spaces for each dwelling or 0.75 spaces for social housing.

But councillors gave planning permission for a block of flats in Cray View Close, St Mary Cray, which does not have any parking spaces.

People who live in these homes have no option but to park on neighbouring streets including outside Andy Cottenham’s model shop Kent Garden Railways in the high street.

He says this is driving his customers away and he may have to move out of the area after 16 years of trading so his business can survive.

Other blocks of flats are being built nearby and although these have some parking spaces there is a worry there will not be enough.

Mr Cottenham said: “I can only see it getting worse.

“If it becomes worse I may have to consider moving out of the area and I think the shops would not be relet.

“There is considerable frustration about parking and cars parking outside your shop all week.

“I have customers who say they cannot come in because they cannot park.

“I do not understand how it has been allowed to happen.

“Someone ought to be sacked who allowed it.”

Ward councillor David McBride was on the planning sub-committee which approved the application.

But he says he fought against giving planning permission without adequate parking.

Members of the Cray Valley East safer neighbourhood panel have asked Bromley Council for the planning meeting minutes to try and find out why planning permission was granted.