ANGRY businesses in Chiswick say they could be ruined by a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) about to be introduced on to their roads if Ealing Council doesn't rethink the scheme.

The so-called Zone R Southfields' CPZ is to come into effect on Monday March 15, cracking down on cars parked for more than 30 minutes between the hours of 9am and 6pm, to ease the congestion on the roads.

Ealing Council say that many residents consulted agreed with the scheme - which will affect roads around the Southfield Road area, such as Alexandra Road, Hamilton Road, Bonheur Road and Brookfield Road.

However, businesses say that without the introduction of Pay and Display machines to allow shoppers to stay longer many of their businesses could be ruined, as most of them offer services requiring customers to stay for more than half an hour. The area includes a medical surgery, dental surgery, Southfield school and a hairdressers, amongst others.

They are currently getting a petition together, and have already complained to their MP Clive Soley and Ealing Council.

Dentist Ralph Palmer said that patients often needed more than half an hour, adding: "I can understand why the council is doing this, which is fine, but these buildings were sold as shops and need places to park. There are 10,000 patients at the medical surgery, 3,000 at my surgery and 300 kids at the school. We need somewhere to park. Why can't we just have Pay and Display booths where the shops are, so that we don't have to park illegally?"

Chiropodist Johan Jeronimus, of the Avenue Clinic, agreed: "Most of my patients need a leeway of up to one hour, if not two. This will make it very difficult for people to come and see us by car - and they are exactly the kind of people that need to drive!"

Harvey Mudhvar, Director of The Chiswick Fireplace Company, wrote to the council warning of a profound effect on business': "Most of our clients spend at least one to two hours buying a fireplace, and spend in the region of £1,500-£2,000 per visit. This is not something that can be rushed in half an hour."

Another trader, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "The shops have to pay £250 a year (the price of a business permit for parking within the CPZ) for the priviledge of losing their business."

A spokesman for Ealing Council said only: "There are a number of CPZ schemes about to be introduced, all of which have been consulted upon."