Shopkeepers in Woodford Bridge have succeeded in getting Redbridge Council to rethink proposed parking restrictions which they said would have put them out of business.

The council wanted to introduce double yellow lines on a slip road at the Chigwell Road/Manor Road roundabout next to shops including Floral ‘N’ Hardy florists, the Bridge pharmacy and the Sea Farers fish and chip shop.

But after the traders, who believed the restrictions would turn away customers, united to show their opposition with a petition and an appearance at an area committee meeting, the council said it would reconsider.

While the council will now look to “maximise parking”, a spokesman said some restrictions will still be considered “to protect access and to improve road safety approaching the roundabout”.

The spokesman said: “As a result of traders’ concerns, an officer visited the area on July 26 to discuss the situation.

“The council has agreed to shelve the current proposals and look at ways of providing additional parking and loading facilities to benefit both traders and their customers.”

Single yellow lines on the slip road would have been turned into double yellow lines and loading restrictions would have been extended to 7am to 7pm.

Pat Ilett, 70, who has invested in two businesses run by her daughters on the slip road, said: “They’ve shelved them [the plans] for the time being.

“No-one will do anything this side of the Olympics.

“Until they confirm it in black and white that they’re not doing it, you never can tell.”

She met with Redbridge Police, Transport for London and Richard Aveyard, from the council’s parking management team, on Thursday and she said Mr Aveyard will be contacting traders to let them know what will now happen.

Michael Caracino, 24, who works at school outfitters Carolina, said the proposals were “absolutely disgraceful”.

He said: “It will close our business down. No one will come here.”

And Ibrahim Pireudak, 38, who works at Sea Farers, said: “If [customers] come round and there’s nowhere to park, they will go somewhere else.”