A Coulsdon town centre survey has revealed that a lack of car parking spaces is a major problem for residents and shopkeepers.

The results of the survey are due to be announced at next Wednesday's Coulsdon East and Coulsdon West neighbourhood partnership meeting.

Coulsdon town centre is set for a major revamp and a delayed new bypass is due to open in August. The survey was commissioned by the neighbourhood partnership to find out residents' views on local issues.

According to the survey, 81 per cent of residents agree that parking in Coulsdon town centre needed to be extended for more convenient access to local shops, while 77 per cent agreed that more short stay parking spaces should be made available.

Peter Morgan, a member of Coulsdon Road Users Forum, devised the survey and insists a lack of parking spaces in the town centre has been a problem.

He said: "I've known Coulsdon for the last 20 years and parking in the town centre has become gradually more difficult. Plenty of restrictions have been introduced and parking enforcement has become more severe."

Supermarket giants Sainsbury's has been linked with a move to the Lion Green Road car park in Coulsdon and Mr Morgan claims that could worsen the problem.

He added: "If Sainsbury's was to move to the site and develop a multi-storey car park then that could help, but if not then parking problems will just increase which would be highly detrimental to local businesses."

Alan Wright, proprietor of Express Copy, in Chipstead Valley Road, said: "We were promised by the council that the red route would be removed as soon as work started on the bypass, but it hasn't."