Harrow Conservatives launched a petition against the Labour-run council’s decision to keep street barriers in place outside shopping precincts as part of its Covid-19 strategy.

Cllr Keith Ferry, deputy leader of Harrow Council, last week confirmed the pavement-widening barriers would remain in place in Honeypot Lane, Streatfield Road, Kenton Road, and Kenton Lane, until at least September 15.

This was despite recommendations from the council’s traffic and road safety advisory panel (TARSAP), which suggested the measures should be reversed following concerns raised by businesses in these areas.

The borough’s Conservative group has since called for the barriers to be withdrawn immediately, and said it has the support of several shopkeepers along the roads that have been affected.

The petition suggests the loss of parking spaces brought about by these new measures has “caused unnecessary hardship and difficulties for local businesses”.

Cllr Paul Osborn, leader of Harrow Conservatives, said there was first-hand evidence of a decrease in footfall at shops affected by the new measures and that, by keeping them in place, many will “struggle to survive”.

He visited Queensbury last week where several shop workers called for the barriers to be removed “as soon as possible”.

Staff at AV Lounge, in Streatfield Road, said the changes had “affected the business substantially”, while those at neighbouring Kenton Photographic Services described the decision as “a joke”.

And at a TARSAP meeting earlier this month, Ian Mandel, of Awards4U, in Honeypot Lane, said several shops had been forced to close due to the loss of business.

Cllr Ferry explained the barriers were put in place to encourage social distancing and keep the public safe as it navigates the Covid-19 pandemic.

He added council surveys on footfall at these sites suggested there had not been a drop in visitors and that increased pavement space could attract more shoppers.