The future of Coulsdon's businesses community is in jeopardy after a council report revealed more than one firm a month are forced to close.

Revitalising Coulsdon, a report produced by Coulsdon Neighbourhood Partnership based on the findings of a survey of 9,000 Coulsdon households, has branded the district's centre as being in "severe decline" with many shops being forced to shut.

Bad parking provision and heavy traffic are just two points being blamed for the retail district's decline. The report also reveals firms have made forced redundancies and have experienced a slump in trade during recent months This has prompted the Coulsdon's Neighbourhood Partnership to come up with a 10 point plan to get the town centre out of it's current decline.

The points include withdrawing red route boxes to create more free parking, reducing or removing charges at metered parking places and an agreement to open the relief road at the earliest opportunity to encourage pre-Christmas trading.

Councillor Terry Lenton (Con) says Coulsdon's businesses are at crisis point: "It is desperate at the minute. Some premises are being replaced but in many cases some are not which obviously isn't good for the town centre.

"It really is desperate times for our business and we have to do something about it before more start to close."

The Coulsdon East councillor says a pre-Christmas opening of the delayed bypass will be a massive boost to traders, adding: "I've heard that the road may be opened before Christmas now which would be fantastic for the traders. Christmas is traditionally a busy time for our shops and opening the bypass for the Christmas period will really help."

Despite a number of pending developments, including a multi-million pound Sainsbury's, a proposed Aldi superstore and the relief road, Coun Lenton wants to see a more holistic approach to ensuring the prosperity of Coulsdon's firms.

She said: "There are a lot of developments planned for Coulsdon, but it is important that there is some joined-up thinking.

"If we just have one-off developments like Sainsbury's and no overall plan then we'll have a thriving shop but not a thriving business community."

The councillor has issued a rallying cry to the Coulsdon community to erase the current doom and gloom surrounding local firms.

"I want to encourage everyone to get behind out local shops. We need Croydon Council, Transport for London and the community to work together to help our businesses succeed."