Business owners in Surbiton's Ewell Road breathed a sigh of relief when controversial plans to scrap customer parking and create a new bus lane along the road were scrapped.

A party of shop and business owners from the road had launched a 150-signature petition against plans to introduce a bus lane for the route 281 bus.

The bus lane would mean customers and suppliers could not park or stop outside the row of shops between 7am and 10am and 4pm and 7pm.

Many shop owners believe the measures would have put customers off and ruined their businesses.

Vet Peter Melville, from Aspen Veterinary Surgery, who spearheaded the petition, said: "Parking is extremely important for my business and a lot of businesses locally.

"The bottom line is there is no need for a bus lane because the traffic is not that bad."

Councillors at the July 7 Surbiton neighbourhood committee meeting decided congestion problems along Tolworth Broadway must first be tackled before a bus lane in Ewell Road is considered.