A trader claims she has been forced to shut up shop and move to a different town after parking restrictions “killed” her business.

Eve Fox, who owns Hadley Hounds, in High Street, Barnet, is relocating her dog grooming parlour to Whetstone after constantly feeling guilty about the amount of customers complaining they had been hit with fines.

The 29-year-old opened her business five years ago when she left university, but noticed custom fall when cash parking meters were removed from Barnet’s streets four years ago.

She said: “Customers get tickets if they are just dropping their dogs off or running in and out and can’t find anywhere to park. It’s been a nightmare.

“I’ve been thinking about moving for a year because it’s impossible for me to run a shop. The council introduces ridiculous parking measures, and then wonders why the high street is dead.

“Sometimes people drop their dogs off and are in the shop for less than five minutes, but get back to their car to see they’ve been ticketed. It’s just mad and I feel awful for them.

“I felt like the council were killing my business so I had to make the decision to move. All my customers have been really supportive, everyone moans about the parking. It gets to everybody.”

Cash parking machines were removed from roads and car parks in 2010 and those wishing to park for any length of time are now either required to use their bank card or pay-by-phone.

As a result, Ms Fox often has to run out of the shop to pick up dogs from people’s cars to help them avoid a fine.

She claims that half an hour of free parking would help boost trade on the high street – something which traders in East Finchley have been petitioning for for eight years.

Ms Fox added: “Some of my elderly clients don’t have a mobile phone and don’t like using credit cards in the street. It’s been really hard on them and I feel sorry for them. It’s silly.

“It’s easier to go somewhere with free parking.”

Ms Fox said the “final straw” was the expensive business rates in the area – a sum which is set by central government.

She added: “It was the nail on the coffin for me here. I’ve had to apply for rate relief to help ease the pressure because for a while, I wasn’t turning a profit.

“I was astonished, it doesn’t seem like the council are helping anyone.”

The Barnet Society has launched a petition to urge the authority to create an hour of free parking along the High Street and in all three car parks, which has been signed by more than 400 people.

The Times Series is awaiting comment from Barnet Borough Council.