A ONCE thriving Rickmansworth shopping parade faces a slow but certain demise unless action is taken by the district council to improve its appeal, disgruntled traders have warned.

Beleaguered shopkeepers in Moneyhill Parade say they are fighting a losing battle to keep their businesses alive as shoppers, concerned by its difficult parking and tardy appearance, turn instead to an ever increasing number of supermarkets.

In recent memory the parade has lost its only green grocer, both its butchers, its newsagent and its post office. It has gained only a handful of fast-food restaurants – like the Dominos Pizza branch that stands on the site of the former Hamblings butchery.

Richard Burrows began working in family owned B&B Radio and TV in 1976 and has since taken over its running from his father. He has no plans, however, to pass the retail and repair business onto his son.

He said: “This parade has changed so much in the time I’ve known it.

The traditional shops are slowly being forced out because they can’t compete. I’m just about making a living. I don’t want that for my son.

“In ten years’ time the parade will be full of takeaways – they seem to be the only people who can make money in this environment.”

Mr Burrows admits that deeper market forces must take much of the blame but argues Three Rivers District Council should do more to improve one of its few remaining shopping areas.

He and other shopkeepers would like:

- Improved parking outside, achieved by widening the parade further toward Uxbridge Road.

- Limited pedestrianisation.

- General tidying up of the area.

He added: “I don’t know all the answers but this would be a start. In the last 30 years I can’t remember anyone from the council asking us what we want here. They’ve poured money into Rickmansworth High Street but forgotten about us. We pay our rates as well, but what do we get?

“We’ve asked about the road, we’ve asked about parking but just seem to be passed from the county council back to the district council. We don’t care about the politics of it all. We just want something to be done.

Dry cleaner Graham Pruce is another business owner concerned for the future.

He said: “I’ve been here since 1972.

My father started the business in 1948 and moved to this shop in 1964. My business is okay at the moment but, again, I wouldn’t pass it on to my sons.

Things have changed so much. If you go outside and look along the rood its all takeaways and restaurants.

It’s getting busy at night but not in the day.

“Now the Post Office has gone we’re wondering how much passing trade will go with it.”

Ward and county councillor Barbara Lamb, who has shopped on the parade since moving to the area in the 1960s, said she would do all she could to promote improvements at the site and would raise traders’ issues with councillors.