It is a street that harks back to a time when communities had everything on their doorstep.

There is no other street in Oxford quite like Magdalen Road.

A church nestles next door to a Buddhist centre, a vegetarian cafe is directly opposite a butchers, along with three pubs, a theatre, a fish shop, a cycle workshop, a halal meat store and the world's first children's hospice - all in the middle of a residential area.

But businesses in the diverse street said the number of companies had already drastically reduced and warned proposed residential parking zones - bays reserved for householders, not for customers - could kill off the remaining 30+ businesses based there.

Dave Seamer has run Dave Seamer Entertainments, a karaoke and disco business, for 20 years.

He said: "It is already a nightmare with speed bumps and parking restrictions.

"If people can't park here, the businesses will close, you cannot just rely on calling customers on foot and my customers generally need a vehicle because they are taking away heavy stuff."

Michael Diliberto, of Giovanni's Barbers, added: "We have lost some businesses in the street over the years, which is a shame, but I think a lot of that is to do with parking - the council has made it really difficult for passing trade.

"I am not happy about plans to introduce residents' parking because I am not sure how it is going to work."

Many of the businesses cite lower rents than nearby Cowley Road as one of the reasons for the street's success and an ethos where they all buy from each other.

Two new businesses have opened in the last few months, florists Bloomin' Chic and the Electric Transport Shop.

Bloomin' Chic owner Sara Jakeman said: "I chose here because it was in a central location, the road is very quirky and I thought it would fit in well.

"Also the overheads are fairly low. We love it here, it is very friendly and one of the things we find is it is like a small close community, everybody is trying to help everybody else."

Ruth Ashcroft, of the Inner Bookshop, moved to the road in 1992.

She said: "If it dropped below a certain number of businesses, this road would be invisible again. But because there are a certain amount, it is a community hub."

Alexis Zafiropoulos, of the Oxford Cycle Workshop, said: "I think Magdalen Road is great. I don't think our business would sit as comfortably in any other street.

"You might have to pay a little extra but it is all right on your doorstep."

And Mohammed Anwar, of Magdalen Road Store, said: "There is something about this road, an attraction to it, and I think people like coming here."

County council spokesman Paul Smith said: "The proposal for a controlled parking zone is something that the local community are interested in and we have been consulting on that to give all parties the chance to have their say."