Rosehill traders have banded together to launch a petition calling on Sutton Council for help to attract more shoppers to the high street.

The petition, to be delivered to council leader Ruth Dombey, aims to increase footfall in the area by getting larger businesses to return after many closed.

Business owners also hope to meet with council officers soon to form a plan where residents are encouraged to spend their money in Rosehill.

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Sergey Boyarski said the situation is the worst it has been

Sergey Boyarski, owner of Cleaners a Whistle dry cleaners, said the high street had been in decline since the early 2000s, but the closure of banks in the past two years resulted in a fall in shopper visits to the area.

The 57-year-old said: “Rosehill is a great area, but it is going downhill. Businesses are so worried after big shops like Superdrug, Lidl and HSBC and Santander closed.

“I have worked here for 20 years and it is much worse than it has ever been, it’s miserable. Before the banks closed recently each branch would attract 200 to 300 people every day and they would shop in the high street after they had finished.

“Ten shops are now getting a petition together to send to see if we can establish some sort of plan to get people to come back here. We would like the banks to come back as well as some bigger businesses to become part of the community again.

“Now that they are gone shoppers go to Merton or Sutton to do their shopping, Rosehill is dying.”

A Sutton Council spokesman said: “The council's business support team and local councillors are in contact with businesses in Rosehill, and are working with them to improve footfall in the area."

Do you live, or own a business in Rosehill? Send your views to anders.anglesey@london.newsquest.co.uk