A group of Putney shop owners have blasted Wandsworth Council after “Boris Bike” docking stations were installed to replace a row of parking spaces outside their businesses.

The docking stations are replacing six parking spaces near to the junction of Upper Richmond Road and Carlton Drive, opposite the Prince of Wales pub.

Derek Waddington, who runs Broadway Bathrooms, awoke on Monday to find workmen digging up the road.

Mr Waddington said: “We were very surprised to find, without warning, that the parking bay opposite our parade of shop’s is now being dug up and replaced with a bike station.

“None of us were informed of this change or given the opportunity to object to this change.

“This parking bay is an important part of us all being able to run our businesses effectively as small business owners, and we believe this will cause a severe downfall in trade as all of us have customers who use the parking bays to visit our shops.”

It is both Transport for London and the council's statutory responsibility to inform residents and businesses of changes such as this.

A council spokesman said: “We have advertised every planning application for a docking station and have been promoting the scheme’s expansion for the last two years.

“This site involves converting six car parking spaces into more than 20 cycle hire bays. There are alternative parking spaces on both sides of Upper Richmond Road and surrounding streets. We believe the many benefits of this new, pollution free transport service will far outweigh the costs.”

The first of about 60 docking stations are now being installed in Wandsworth, initially in Putney, Battersea and Wandsworth Town, although most will not be operational until December.

Leader of Wandsworth Council Ravi Govindia said: “There’s real excitement about the scheme’s arrival and it will be a valuable new addition to our transport network.

"It’s a fast, fun, inexpensive and pollution-free travel option that will help take some of the load off our buses, trains and Tube.”

A meeting between the affected traders, Putney town centre manager Stephen Wallace and Putney councillor James Maddan at La Vera Restaurant, 100 Upper Richmond Road, due to be held on Friday at 4pm.

For a list of docking station sites visit wandsworth.gov.uk/cyclehire.