7:40am Friday 23rd March 2012
By Clare Buchanan
A desperate shopkeeper said he was losing business after being refused an Oyster card machine.
Jagpal Bajaj said he had been battling with Transport for London (TfL), which provides the equipment, since Station Superstore in Coombe Road, New Malden, opened in 2008.
The trader said he was forced to turn away up to 50 customers a day, who come in to buy newspapers, food and drink and ask to top-up their Oyster cards before heading to New Malden station.
He said: “It’s affected my business, I am an honest person and I send customers elsewhere because I can’t help them.”
A TfL spokesman said the refusal was based on the demand in the area, which they said was being met by other outlets, including one in the station forecourt that was given priority due to its location.
The spokesman said: “We have a certain number of shops within the postcode to fulfil our requirements.
“In the KT3 area there are 18 outlets, which is sufficient.”
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