Shopkeepers say parking charges, planning constraints and competition for premises from big chains are making it harder and harder for small independents.

The Watford Observer has spoken to three independent traders in High Street, Rickmansworth, who say a combination of factors make it hard for them even to open.

Adrian Kitachi, who has run Renaissance Tattoo Studio in High Street for the past eight years said business owners agreed that footfall was ‘very noticeably in decline’ – and saw parking charges brought in by Three Rivers District Council last year as one of the causes.

Mr Kitachi said: “Business owners hear constant complaints from customers that the parking meters won’t accept cash and the elderly often find them confusing and difficult to operate.

“One retailer told me that there had been many occasions that a prospective client has cut a conversation short and left because their hour was almost up.”

Susie Pegler is owner of The Block, a High Street clothes shop that has been open for 11 years.

She said: “You have to decide how long you are going to be and if you stay any longer you are going to get penalised.

“I had an older woman who got a ticket after staying three minutes longer. Footfall has been changed for the worse by the parking restrictions, and we know because we are here.

“It’s absolute nonsense that parking restrictions have helped business.”

Mr Kitachi also believes the planning process makes it difficult for some businesses.

Planning laws dictate that if you want to change a shop into a nail bar or a tattoo parlour you must apply for a 'change of use'.

This meant Mr Kitachi’s application had to go through a much longer process than typical planning applications as the council had to decide if the site was suitable.

The Government creates these laws but they are implemented by Three Rivers Council.

He added: “The application process for change of use can take anything from a couple of months to even a couple of years if you include an appeal against a refusal.

“Landlords would sooner see an estate agent or barber move in very quickly than wait for months for a different type of business to be awarded permission.

“My personal experience with Three Rivers Planning Department wasn’t a great one, I felt they did more to hinder me than help. They certainly gave the impression they’d rather have my shop empty than in use even though it had already been vacant for a year."

Jay Yadiv runs Rickmansworth Stationery in High Street. He said the variety of businesses have suffered, and many have left because of independent businesses like Mr Kitachi's being drowned out by bigger chains.

Mr Yadiv said: “You are seeing more local shops leaving and being replaced by chains, but how many estate agents and coffee shops do you need?

“The shops that draw people to the high street are going, and people will just be going to Watford if they want something.

“We are losing the diversity of our high street.”

Geof Muggeridge, the council’s director of community and environmental services, has said the new local worker permit scheme to be introduced in the area would help town centre employees.

He also says new businesses are already filling empty premises in the high street.

Mr Muggeridge said: “There are few vacant shops in the centre of Rickmansworth - three per cent - and at least one of these (Oxfam) is currently being fitted out for a new occupier.

“Several new businesses have opened in the past year as units have previously become vacant.

“The introduction of parking charges, where the first hour remains free, has helped to encourage turnover of short-stay visitors, something shopkeepers previously called for.”

Leader of Three Rivers District. Council, Cllr Sara Bedford, said: “Councils now have very limited powers to control the type of businesses in a High Street. Most new businesses will not require planning permission to change the use of the building, and can apply for permission before they own the premises. The most important factor is will the business bring people to the area, thus keeping the High Street busy and attractive.

“A tattoo studio falls into an unusual planning use class, which means it is one of the few changes of business which does require planning permission. Mr Kitachi’s planning application was not delayed, but was decided by the council in less than eight weeks. Three Rivers is consistently one of the highest performing councils for both speed and quality of planning decision making”.