A SOUTH Woodford businessman claims George Lane CCTV will be the “bullet that kills trade,” as he prepares to post a petition containing hundreds of signatures to the council.

Chairman of the South Woodford Business Partnership, Kerk Davies, will tomorrow (Wednesday) send off a petition organised by traders, in a desperate attempt to stop the council using new CCTV cameras to catch drivers parking illegally in George Lane.

Around 350 people have signed the document after the Guardian revealed that despite numerous reassurances, the cameras would not solely be used to combat street crime.

The measures come as part of a regeneration scheme, mainly funded by Transport for London, to improve the area for pedestrians.

Mr Davies said: “South Woodford is on the verge of receiving £2million for improvements to the town centre.

“Traders were delighted to hear the news, although the introduction of CCTV has set parking alarm bells ringing.

“Could this be the bullet that kills trade?

“Coucillors attending Partnership meetings believe that the CCTV is being introduced as a crime prevention machine rather than a means of raising revenue for petty parking offences.

"The parking control office, however requested the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian to remove an item on their website stipulating that CCTV would not be used to monitor parking offences.

"The Authority has indicated that it would, in fact, be used for that purpose.”

He added: “ It is not unreasonable to combat illegal parking where problems may occur.

“But let’s at least look at the parking arrangements in South Woodford before pointing the cameras.

“Spontaneous shoppers need more flexibility rather than less.

“There are, after all, no real congestion problems in George Lane.

“I urge councillors and people in a position to influence parking, in South Woodford, to talk to the community.”