Business owners say the lack of free parking at the top of the high street has affected footfall, while Sutton Council insists it has increased since Morrisons closed in 2024.
Businesses at the top end of Sutton High Street say a lack of free parking is driving customers away, with traders blaming Transport for London’s (TfL) red route restrictions and the continued closure of the former Morrisons car park for reduced footfall.
While businesses say they are having to adapt to the loss of free parking, Sutton Council insists footfall has increased since Morrisons closed.
“We just need this parking,” said Rostam Khan, manager of Dynamic Local on the A232 section of the red route running through Sutton High Street. “We can barely make the rent now because of the situation we are in.”
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that a lack of on-street parking had forced the shop to stop operating its once-lucrative butcher section. Customers and delivery vans cannot pull up for extended drop-offs outside because of the red route, while there is no parking at the rear.
Choudry Ahmed runs Press 2 Dress dry cleaners on the Cheam Road section of the A232. He said he has lost “so many customers” as a result of the parking restrictions on the TfL-managed red route outside the shop, adding that he had seen at least three customers being ticketed in a single week.
“It’s a very bad situation at the moment; we need them to do something about it,” he told the LDRS.
Further along the road, Benny Or of Betsutenjin Ramen said customers were worried about parking while visiting the restaurant.
“This is all we need at the moment,” he told the LDRS. “People are worried and always looking out the window.”
Under the current red route restrictions, no stopping is permitted on the A232 between 7am and 7pm Monday to Saturday to help limit congestion. While some disabled parking and limited loading are permitted, drivers who breach the restrictions face a £160 penalty.
Choudry said several businesses along the Cheam Road section of the A232 had written to TfL calling for the parking restrictions to be eased, but received no response. TfL later confirmed to the LDRS that it has no current plans to make changes along Cheam Road.
The former Morrisons car park is a separate, longer-term concern for businesses at the top end of the high street. The supermarket provided two hours of free underground and rooftop parking for shoppers before suddenly closing in July 2024.
“There were never any issues when Morrisons was there,” said Choudry. While free town centre parking is still available at ASDA, it is at the other end of the high street, while other nearby large-scale car parks charge drivers.
Members of a jewellery shop said the lack of parking was particularly difficult for elderly customers who may struggle to walk from alternative car parks. While the nearby Gibson Road car park remains an option, they said customers still have to cross “a lot of busy roads” to reach the businesses.
Imran Master is the store manager of Conways Opticians, which faces the former Morrisons high street entrance. He agreed that the loss of free parking had removed a convenient option for visitors to Sutton.
“They want something quick,” he added.
He also told the LDRS how the business has had to adapt to what he saw as a visible change in footfall since the closure. “It has been over two years since it closed now,” he said.
“You miss those people coming into Sutton and passing us, thinking that it’s not a usual optician and giving us a go.”
Conways has responded by using leaflets and increasing its presence on social media to try to attract more customers.
“It’s another obstacle for us,” he added, describing the situation as “the battle against online”.
Morrisons closed on 2 July 2024 for what was initially described as “essential maintenance”. In September 2025, Morrisons confirmed the original store and parking would not reopen due to the “significant structural repairs required”.
It confirmed that it now intends to build a new store on the site, but gave no date for construction. Morrisons did not respond to the LDRS’s question about whether free parking would be available at the new site.
Despite these concerns, Councillor Christopher Woolmer, Lead Member for Transport, told the LDRS: “Independent figures show that footfall along Sutton High Street has actually increased compared with when Morrisons closed and spending is up.”
He continued: “We continue to engage with Morrisons regarding the timeline for the reopening of the store, and I would encourage local businesses to share any concerns with us as we want to continue to support our businesses to thrive. Regarding Cheam Road, while red routes fall under TfL control rather than the council’s, we remain committed to raising business concerns directly with TfL and the Mayor.”
He added that the council approved plans in June to improve Sutton Town Centre, with work at the top of the high street expected to begin next year. The improvements will include more planting and seating.
Regarding the red routes, a TfL spokesperson told the LDRS: “We recognise the important role local businesses play in communities across London and regularly review our road network to ensure it meets the needs of all road users. However, any changes to parking and loading arrangements on red routes must be carefully considered to avoid affecting traffic flow, road safety and public transport services.”
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