A East Sheen Butcher is concerned that he will lose business over the installation of electric vehicle charging points outside of his shop.

Work is currently taking place outside of R.Chubb and Sons butchers to install electric vehicle charging points, meaning that six roadside parking bays are currently out of use.

Some of these bays will remain out of use permanently after the work has been completed but the butcher has said he doesn't know how many bays will be back in use.

The work going on outside of the butchers. (Photo Credit: Heather Nicholls).

The work has started earlier than the businesses were originally told.

A letter from Zest Eco LTD (who are carrying out the work), dated 5 February 2024 said: "We will be undertaking construction works outside the front of your property within the footway and parking bays to install electric vehicle charging stations as part of the Transport for London roll out across London

"We will be required to close the footway and parking bays during the construction and will implement a temporary pedestrian walkway always providing access for customers."

The letter stated that would would start on 22 March and finish on 12 April (subject to change), however it infact started on Monday 11 March.

Chris, who works at the butcher's said: "The building work wasn't there on the Saturday and then I came in on Monday and it was there.

"That parking bay secures passing trade and a lot of customers are elderly so they need the parking bay.

"No one seems to know what's happening and we're concerned it will hurt business."

A view of the work from inside the butchers. (Photo Credit: Heather Nicholls).

A planning application for this was submitted to Richmond Council.

The application said: "The surrounding area is a predominately retail and commercial high street, comprising of mainly three storey buildings with residential units in the upper floors.

"The existing parking restrictions are Monday-Saturday, 7am-7pm, no return within one hour.

"A new electric vehicle parking bay will be marked out to allow solely electric vehicles to park and a road sign will be attached to a new post [replacing the existing one] to be erected to the west of the parking bay.

"Two steel bollards will be installed in front of the EV charging point to protect it from any vehicle impacts."

"Use of the charging point and allocated parking space will raise no amenity concerns over and above those associated with general on-street car parking."

The site location plan. (Photo Credit: Planning Application).

The application received two objections.

One objection said: "The parking here has already been reduced by adding one electric charging point, leaving only two valid parking spaces.

"This gives less opportunity for residents such as myself to unload shopping etc, for the businesses to accept deliveries, less parking for the shops along this stretch (detrimental to their business) and for the less abled to access these shops also.

"It's not clear if we will even have one parking space left along this stretch.

"Why can't the new charging point be placed further down the road so that they are spread out instead of unfairly affecting the few businesses here?"

The other objection notes that a lot of elderly people need these parking bays for access to shops.

Sara Gezdari, Conservative Candidate for Richmond Park said: "

"In this instance, It is clear that communication with our local businesses from TfL and the Lib Dem council is severely lacking.

"Our high street shops are the hub of our communities - footfall needs to be encouraged and supported, not prevented.

"Residents have highlighted areas nearby where EV charging would be less disruptive."

Nub News has contacted Richmond Council and TFL for comment.