AN influx of takeaways in St Albans Road is killing trade and destroying the area's ambience, it was claimed in September.

Shopkeepers and existing takeaway owners are now calling on Watford Borough Council to curb the number of fast food outlets that open in the future.

Established takeaway owners claim increasing competition is making it hard for them to survive, while retailers say any more will drive the few remaining shoppers from the area.

The situation has become so bad that some smaller businesses have already had to close.

And those that can afford to stay open say they are being forced to consider staff redundancies, in a last-ditch attempt to stay in business.

At an emergency meeting of the St Albans Road Traders' Association this week, shopkeepers discussed the future of the area.

They criticised Watford Borough Council for continuing to allow more fast food businesses to open and said they were preparing to petition Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill on the issue.

Terry Honour, who works in The Gas Shop in St Albans Road, said: "My gut feeling is that the council is going to destroy St Albans Road as a shopping area.

"They have not got Watford's best interests at heart. If we want to keep this as a shopping area, we have got to do something soon.

"If we don't, no one is going to open anything other than fast food shops in this area."

It is not just shopkeepers who are reluctant to see more takeaways in the area.

The fight for trade among takeaways is also taking its toll on some of the more established fast food businesses in the road.

Ijaz Akhter, who has run The Viking fish and chip shop for 15 years, said he was dismayed when the council gave planning permission for another fish and chip shop to open next door to his own.

He said he was very worried about his takings and said he could be forced to make some of his staff redundant when the new shop opens its doors.

He said: "It's ridiculous that I have to compete with one right next door to me. I am worried about the future of my shop.

"I employ local people, but if trade suffers, I will have to put one or two people out of work."

Tolga Ertukel, who works in the The Anchor fish and chip shop, shared Mr Akhter's views and said: "This is affecting everyone. Some of these places are going to have to shut. There is not room for all of them."

Traders want to see more retail development in the area and have called on the council to limit the number of takeaways allowed to open in the future.

They have welcomed news that parking changes will be introduced in the area from January, with loading bays being changed to allow pay and display parking in St Albans Road.

Two major car parks in the area are also set for a makeover, with resurfacing and CCTV cameras being installed to make them safer places to park, which will hopefully encourage more shoppers to the area. A spokesman for Watford Borough Council said: "The overall health of the shopping function of St Albans Road is a major concern for the council.

"Of particular concern has been the rise in takeaways, which steadily increased during the 1990's and increased by a further ten outlets between 1998 and 2002.

"The council is committed to working with residents and businesses to deliver a joined-up strategy to regenerate St Albans Road and will review the current policy as part of the revision to the Local Development Framework which is starting shortly."