Eddie Annan Singh & Phil Webb say council CCTV is ruining the business

Ilford firm threaten to leave borough due to ‘overzealous’ parking wardens

by Jessica Earnshaw , Reporter Saturday, August 11, 2012
8:30 AM

Bosses at an electrical wholesaler who believe parking enforcement is too “harsh” say they may cut their losses and leave the borough after sales dropped by 50 per cent.

BEW Electrical Distributors Ltd, Ley Street, Ilford blame the council’s CCTV parking vehicles for their decline in sales and they suggest a bit of “common sense” is used before fining people.

General manager Michael Jackson said: “The overzealous CCTV cameras cars are killing local trade.

“The parking enforcement as of late has doubled its camera cars from one to two.

“Our branch employs a number of guys who also live locally and if things keep going the way the parking restrictions want, our trade will die totally and we will have to start thinking about relocating, redundancies or the worst case scenario, closing the branch.”

The company has seen counter sales fall by almost 50 per cent in the last three months.

Chairman of BEW, Phil Webb, added: “We do have parking bays in the front of our premises but sometimes our customers do not park accurately enough and leave a wheel on the pavement.

“This has been enough for the council’s enforcement officers to issue a parking fine.”

The company, who have 12 branches in the UK, have spent £30,000 refurbishing the shop front, showroom and counter to make it more appealing to passing trade and easier to access.

“All we are asking for is a bit of courtesy and common sense,” said Mr Webb. “I wonder now if the money would not have been better spent moving to an out-of-town trade park with easy parking facilities and delivery access.”

Muhammed Farooq, owner of Shanel Dry Cleaners, Ley Street, said: “All my customers are complaining about the lack of courtesy shown by parking wardens.

“If they see you walking back to your car, they will just give you a ticket anyway.

“I want the council to listen and allow customers a couple of minutes leeway.”

Redbridge Council did not respond to the Recorder’s queries at the time of going to press.