A CAFÉ owner who says parking charges, skyrocketing business rates and the cost of rubbish collection are ruining his business fears he could be forced to close down.

Cem Kaplam, of Phillip Lane, opened Café Lemon, in Green Lanes, Harringay, nine years ago but has given his business until April to improve.

It used to cost £1.40 to park per hour but in 2011, the charges were increased to £3.30 an hour – something which has crippled Mr Kaplam’s business.

The 52-year-old said: “Takings have dropped around 15 - 20% because before, people used to park on the high street and stop here and now they are doing that less.

“I am suffering in here for the community because I like this place but I am also a businessman and I am losing money. This is what I love to do and it is very sad.

“Now we are still busy on weekends but very quiet during the week. Parking charges are one of the reasons. People come in and run out again to check and see if the parking attendant is around.

“People won’t stop anymore - they don’t want to pay the charges just to get a coffee. This is affecting other businesses and us as well.”

He has also blamed spiralling expenses, such as business rates and rubbish collection fees as reasons why he may have to shut.

Mr Kaplam has had an offer from a businessman hoping to open a kebab shop in the area and is considering accepting the offer if trade does not improve.

If this were to happen, he hopes to open a smaller cafe on Philip Lane or on West Green Road. He added: “When we first opened I said I would keep our prices down so people could afford to come and eat. The main thing was to let people afford to come as a family.

“It’s very touching people feel Cafe Lemon is theirs. I had said we will hold on as long as we can but if we can’t deliver an improvement then we will sell.”

A Facebook group called ‘Save Cafe Lemon’ has been set up in support of the coffee shop, which currently has more than 100 likes. Waitress Simona Fiorentino, 23 of Haringey Road, has worked at Cafe Lemon for more than a year.

She said: “Before it was very busy every day and now it is very empty. I don’t know why it is struggling.

“I would like to stay here. It’s not like working for a regular company where they don’t know anything about you, here it is like a small family.”

In a statement, Haringey Council said: "

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: "We recognise that businesses face a range of challenges on the high street, which is why we are committed  helping them to thrive in any way that we can.

"The parking charges in Green Lanes were increased in 2011, following discussions with traders. The charges are designed to ensure that people do not take up parking spaces all day, enabling more people to visit the shops.”