Over 1,000 people have signed a Kilwinning business's petition, to oppose North Ayrshire Council's plan to introduce car parking fees.
Greengrocer and florist Dino and Sons, who have been based in Kilwinning's Main Street for over 40 years, is fearful the council's plan to introduce parking fees spells the end of their trade.
The family business set up an online petition opposing the plans and it has already garnered over 1,000 signatures in just one weekend.
A spokesperson for Dino and Sons said: "We decided to launch the petition after the council voted not to discuss their plans with shopkeepers. That set alarm bells ringing.
"This will be devastating for the town and many of the shops won't be here this time next year. We're one of them.
"The cost of living crisis is really affecting our takings and our customers don't have any extra money to put in a meter. Some customers are spending 26p because that's all they have right now to feed themselves.
"Over the past 40 years we've had our struggles but we've managed to keep the doors open. Unfortunately, this will be the closest we've come to really considering closing the doors as the council's plan will decimate the footfall on Main Street.
"We had another shop in Saltcoats but it had to close as a direct consequence of the council's decision to close off the street for disabled access."
The council originally planned to introduce parking charges at Irvine's Kirkgate, West Road and East Road; Kilwinning's Almswall Road and Oxenward; Largs' Gateside Street and Saltcoats' Chapwell Street, Bradshaw Street, Windmill Street and Kirkgate.
A Dino and Sons spokesman added: "The council's plan flies in the face of the Scottish Government's town centre regeneration policy which urges local councils to meet with the public and shopkeepers to work together and put the health of our town centres at the heart of decision making.
"There is an advert on the side of a council work van to 'buy local' and support North Ayrshire's businesses. It's heartbreaking how many years we've put into the community and the council will destroy all of that with a wave of a hand, without even speaking to us about it."
One person said: "North Ayrshire Councillors should hang their heads in shame. It's disgraceful the way they treat hard-working retailers and hammer them with extortionate rates and are now discouraging people to 'shop local'. Are they set on turning the area into ghost towns? Appalling decision."
Another signer echoed the sentiment: "It will kill our town altogether."
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The planned introduction of car parking charges in a small number of our town centre car parks was reaffirmed at a full meeting of North Ayrshire Council on September 22.
“As the current Cost-of-Living crisis is of primary importance at this time, it was agreed that a proposal be brought to Cabinet to reconsider the level of charges proposed in the budget which was agreed earlier this year.
“The proposed car parking charges will affect a minority of our car parks and aim to ensure a regular turnover of town centre car parking spaces, making it easier for people to find a space, which will hopefully be good for business. Our analysis shows that many of the town centre car park spaces are occupied by workers meaning they are occupied all day.
“It is important to stress that although car park charges are common in most areas across Scotland, roughly 80 per cent of our car parks will remain completely free of charge, including all of our long-stay car parks.
“We strongly encourage our communities to give us their thoughts on the decisions taken. Any competent petition submitted to us will be considered by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee in due course.
“In the meantime, officers will continue to meet with elected ward members to discuss and consider options to address local concerns.”
You can sign Dino and Son's petition online here or you can sign a paper copy inside their store on 126a Main Street Kilwinning.
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