FOUR of Malvern's longest running businesses fear their days are numbered if kerbside parking is abolished to make way for a supermarket.

Plans for a Lidl supermarket on the former eurohaus site show parking restrictions stretching along Worcester Road as far as the pedestrian crossing.

But Martin Bowcott, owner of Auto-parts in Malvern Link, said that he, Link Reproductions, York Cafe and Hubbard and Perkins Chiropody rely heavily upon cars being able to park outside their shops.

"I'm celebrating my 30th anniversary this year and if this plan is accepted it could well be my last," said Mr Bowcott.

"At the end of the day, this is a motor business and people bring their cars to the shop. Next door, at Link Reproductions, he sells things like wardrobes and you can't put them under your arm and walk up the road."

Mr Bowcott said York Cafe also relied a lot on passing trade and the chiropody business had elderly and infirm patients who were unable to walk great distances.

"I would like to see Lidl there because it would bring a lot more business to this neck of the woods. But the way the plans have been put together would kill us off," he said.

Mr Bowcott added that the new road layout would make it impossible for people to turn right out of Chillerton Court, which is opposite the proposed Lidl entrance, and for people to turn right out of Lidl on to Worcester Road.

The businesses have written to Malvern Hills district planners to complain, one of 38 letters of objection and a petition lodged with the council.

Ward councillor Philip Wright agreed and said the layout would be likely to cause gridlock in the Link.

"I'm not happy with the loss of parking," he said.

"I'm a taxi driver so I know the problems. It's chaos in the Link at certain times, so much so that I tend to avoid it. The plans would not be so bad if they had a rear exit."

Malvern Town Council was due to discuss the amended Lidl application at its planning committee meeting last night (Thursday).