A PARKING row has broken out in Kenley over a plan for a permanent bus stop near a doctor's surgery.

The proposal involves locating the stop for the 434 bus near Kenley Station, Valley Road.

Currently the 434 pulls up on a hail basis and there is only a lamppost marking the stop.

Transport for London received a request from the East Surrey Transport Committee, which includes community representatives, to provide the stop.

A bus stop cage (road markings) would be introduced under the proposal, which would prevent all vehicles except buses stopping there between 7am and 7pm, from Monday to Friday.

The Moorings Practice, in Valley Road, Kenley, has no car park and most patients and staff park near the station. They fear there will be fewer spaces if the bus stop is introduced.

Practice manager Sue Simpson said: "Parking is a nightmare anyway.

My staff get ticketed even if they are two minutes over 1pm.

"It is perfectly fine as it is and this would mean some of our patients with mobility problems would have to park further away as there would be fewer spaces."

Roger Capham, chairman of the Kenley Safer Neighbourhood Panel, said: "No thank you to this proposal. Why clutter up a rural road with formal bus stops and bus stop bays?"

He added: "It would be totally unacceptable to reduce this valuable parking facility [for patients]. Some clever dick has come up with this idea and it just doesn't work."

Transport for London says it is considering the request for the stop to replace the hail and ride system which is being phased out across London due to the "legal requirement to conform to the Disability Discrimination Act to provide safe accessible bus services to all".

The organisation says it is working with Croydon Council on the matter.

A council spokesman added: "We would welcome any comments from local residents, either directly or via local councillors, before we respond to TfL. The final decision on siting the bus stop does however rest with TfL."