Sidcup businesses have blasted Bexley Council for proposing yellow lines on a road which will “kill” their companies.

The Oval is home to a host of firms but customers and business-owners have reacted in anger to the council planning yellow lines in Haddon Grove.

Kevan Floyd of DIY store Floyds of Sidcup has said the proposal will mean customers cannot park near his shop and it will be impossible for his suppliers to unload.

He said: “Yellow lines by the shop and the dead end would kill our business.

“We would have no alternative but to shut down putting five people out of work.

“Residents and shoppers have used the dead space in Haddon Grove for parking for a number of years as the spaces at the front of the parade are always full.

“The latest proposal to put double yellow lines at the dead end of Haddon Grove and outside our shop makes no sense at all."

Mr Floyd has complained to the council like many of his neighbours as he is worried many small companies in the area will suffer.

He said: “If customers cannot park, they will take their business elsewhere and yet another local  parade of shops will suffer. They would end up going to B&Q in Eltham instead. 

"There are already two empty shops in the parade.

“The council said we will still be able to stop at the rear of the shop to load and unload, but the Highway Code clearly says ‘yellow lines with no waiting at any time restrictions’ mean exactly that.

"It will be near on impossible for us to continue to trade."

Floyds customer Christobel Cox, 72, Willisley Avenue, Sidcup, is furious about the council’s plans.

News Shopper:

She said: “We’re really cross about it.

“We’ve lived here 40 years and never seen anything like it.

“I think Bexley Council is a bully – Mr Floyd gives jobs to local people and they’ll all be out of work if this happens.”

Charlie Popat is owner of convenience store Spa and Fine Wines and Beer, both of which are based in the Oval, and uses Haddon Grove for deliveries as well as customer parking.

He said: “I think it’s a ridiculous idea. All the residents and businesses I’ve spoken to are against it.

“It will be the final nail in the coffin for Floyd’s and it will destroy our businesses too.

“We’re convenience stores – if we can’t offer customers convenience, what can we offer them?

“I’ve been here 12 years and I’ve never been as worried as I am now.

“There’s 29 shops along here and they will all be affected. The council should be supporting small businesses, it’s hard enough as it is.”

A public notice was placed in the News Shopper on January 21 informing people about the plans.

A Bexley Council spokeswoman said: “Consultation into the proposed yellow lines on Haddon Grove finishes tomorrow (11 February) and residents and businesses have until then to give us their views.

"If, once the consultation has closed, the council has received objections into the changes, a report will go to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Realm for a final decision.”

For more information on consultation, call 020 3045 5935 or write a statement of objection to  Traffic Services, Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 7AT by February 11.