Whetstone's High Road has too many restaurants and cafés and is losing its character and traditional shops, according to the Whetstone Society.

The residents' group aired its grievances after Costa Coffee opened in High Road last month, next door to another recently opened coffee shop. It brings to more than 20 the number of cafés, restaurants and pubs in the town centre.

Mac McKenny, chairman of the Whetstone Society, said the proliferation of eating and drinking places was driving out traditional shops' such as affordable clothing stores and hardware shops.

"There's not much for older people and not much in the way of traditional high street shops," said Mr McKenny. "It's the character of the High Road that suffers."

Mr McKenny said the society had put pressure on Barnet Council to refuse permission for coffee shops or restaurants to open in place of other shops, but added: "We've not had a lot of success."

Council statutory planning guidelines stipulate: "The council will seek to ensure that all residents of the borough have ready access to a wide range of goods, services and facilities in their nearest town centres." But Conservative councillor Caroline Margo, who represents Totteridge ward, said: "We don't really have that much control over what kind of businesses move in - it'd be nice if we did. We are trying to make High Road as attractive as possible for residents and shop owners, and to make it as clean and green, and crime-free, as possible."