Drivers could see hundreds of metres of yellow lines disappear across the borough as part of council plans to encourage more customers to shop at small stores.

Motorists will be able to pop into businesses without fear of getting a parking ticket when Richmond Council lifts restrictions in Whitton, Barnes, Teddington, Twickenham, Kew and East Sheen.

The authority will scrub off the yellow lines after traders complained they had deterred their customers. Councillor Chris Harrison, cabinet member for highways and street scene at Richmond Council, said: “We’re doing our utmost to support local shops to thrive, and one of the best ways is by making it easier for their customers to get in.

“We will never compromise safety but there have been times where the council might have been too cautious in installing yellow lines, and not trusted local people to drive safely without nannying them. Businesses have told us they have suffered because of this and now we hope to resolve that problem.

“I’m grateful to local traders who have already helped us to identify areas where lines could be taken out. We already have plans for about 60 per cent of the lines we want to remove and now with local people’s help we can fix the rest.”

Six towns in the borough could see yellow lines vanish and replaced with new parking spaces before the end of the financial year.

It comes after shoppers told the council in its All in One survey they found it difficult to stop in these areas.

Businesses and traders associations will nominate parking restrictions they think should go without affecting road safety or traffic flow.

The council has already removed 50 metres of yellow lines outside shops, in Crown Road, St Margarets, and created 12 new parking spaces.

To suggest double yellow lines you think should go, email the location to highwaysandtransport@richmond.gov.uk