CROYDON Council has admitted failings over Purley's £2 million facelift.

In a reply to former Crystal Palace chairman Ron Noades, who is furious about the makeover's handling, senior engineer James Stephenson said it would be "naïve to think the council could not have better managed the construction process".

He added that a "lessons learnt session" would now be initiated to consider the mistakes made.

But Mr Noades, who forwarded the letter to the Advertiser, says the damage has already been done.

Speaking from Barbados, the Webb Estate resident, of Rose Walk, Purley, said: "You just need to go down there to see what people think.

"It looks nice but all they have done is made it impossible for people to park there. Because it went on for so long, much longer than expected, people have broken the habit of shopping there and have gone elsewhere and haven't returned.

"What brainless person thought this one up?

"I feel sorry for Purley Bon Bon newsagents – they rely on people being able to park up for a few minutes but you can't do it any more.

"My biggest beef is that the turnover for shops is now going down. The point is if these businesses are suffering the council should go and change it, not walk away from it. It's ludicrous."

The council have also failed to rule out more money being paid to contractors Conway who still occupy the site – despite work being scheduled to finish in September last year.

It means any extra payouts for the work could exceed the planned £2 million budget.

Gio Gonzalez, owner of tapas restaurant Las Fuentes, said he had consulted his solicitor about possibly suing the council.

He added: "As a restaurant it does affect us because people don't like to go to the multi-storey car park for security reasons and now they can hardly park outside. There are not enough spaces.

"Everybody is complaining. I don't think much practical thought has gone into it."

Lucinda's women's clothes shop owner Mary Lucinda Coughlan accused the council of "annihilating" local shops.

She said "They are making it tougher and tougher and it isn't fair."

Since the improvement work began in April last year, pavements have been widened and resurfaced, benches installed in the square, trees planted and electric car charging points installed.

A council spokesman said: "Croydon Council has developed a good reputation for delivering large schemes within the borough."