STAFF at a Kidlington pet shop said new parking restrictions may have saved their business.

Alisons Animals and other shops in The Parade off Oxford Road said they were losing trade because commuters were taking up parking bays meant for customers.

Staff said customers were prevented from stopping because of motorists using the area as a free park-and-ride.

Following complaints from businesses and local residents, Oxfordshire County Council brought in new parking restrictions in Oxford Road and on The Parade.

The measures, introduced in July, mean drivers can only park for a maximum of three hours between 10am and 2pm, deterring commuters.

Assistant manager at Alisons Animals Zoe Johnson, who has worked at the shop for 10 years, said she feared the problem could have forced the business to close.

Miss Johnson, who lives in Kidlington, added: “So far it has been much better.

“A lot of people would look for a parking space and then they would go, but so far I have not seen anyone driving up and turning away.

“Most of the customers are saying how much better it is.

“I am very relieved because it got to the point where we were worrying about how many customers we were losing and in the long run the danger of losing business and losing our jobs.”

Earlier in the year, the pet shop launched a petition to get the new parking restrictions introduced and Miss Johnson said she was proud they had played a part in the decision.

Manager Lisa Cocksure, who has been at the shop for 12 years, said some customers had been forced to park on nearby grass verges because all the parking bays were taken up.

Miss Cocksure added: “It has been really good and we have parking spaces now whereas before you had people parking on the grass and up on the driveway.

“A lot of people were parking here and then getting on the bus.

“We lost a lot of customers because they had nowhere to park and we were losing money.

“I believe we have had more customers since the restrictions.

“A lot our customers are saying they really like it and that it has been a big improvement.”

Thames Valley Police, who have a legal obligation to enforce the parking restrictions at The Parade and in Oxford Road, would not comment as to how many parking tickets they have issued since the restrictions were put in to place.