Thousands of pounds set aside to regenerate a shopping parade on Oxford's Rose Hill estate remains unspent -- two years after the money was allocated by the city council.

Businesses on the parade want the money to be spent on security gates to prevent vandals attacking the back of their shops.

They say the unspent cash is just one of the problems being experienced on the estate and are calling for the council to help improve the parade.

A total of £10,000 was allocated from the council's Local Environment Action Fund -- but only £3,300 of it has been spent on landscaping, new bins and benches.

A 40-strong petition supporting the Rose Hill Parade Action Group -- made up of local traders and residents -- has been handed to the council and Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.

Campaigners want the gates put up immediately. They also want the council and the owner of the shops, City Estates, to team up and regenerate the parade. Rose Hill Parade Action Group co-ordinator Susan Goldacre said: "Local people alone are unable to solve this. The serious nature of the problem requires the weight, intervention, willingness and the perseverance of our appointed local authority."

Council estates manager David Carslake said the gates were delayed because it took time to get permission from City Estates and agree who would maintain them.

He added police specifications for the gates had now changed, lengthening the delay.

Shopkeepers claim vandalism and the number of break-ins have increased because of the declining state of the parade.

Store owner Mohammed Bajwa said: "There have been improvements to parts of the parade, but our part is left neglected. There are fences broken down and bits of glass everywhere."

Rose Hill Post Office manager Bharat Dalal said if improvements were not made soon, his business may have to relocate or close. He said: "It's disgusting the way property has been left to run down to such an extent. The back of the parade is dilapidated. We have rain coming into the building, but I have no incentive to invest in repairs. City Estates wants to convert two empty shops into flats, but that could reduce business activity here."

City Estates' managing director Lesley Zucker said the company had hired local agents to try to get new tenants for the empty shops. But, having received very little interest, the company now intends to apply for permission to convert the buildings into flats.

Mr Zuker said: "It is pointless keeping them vacant."

Iffley councillor David Penwarden said the council had persuaded City Estates to secure derelict buildings on the parade and clear graffiti from shop fronts. He added: "We have a quote for the gates, but I'm not sure why there has been a delay. Lockable gates would stop access by truants and drug users who sleep around there. People dump enormous quantities of rubbish there, including needles, on a regular basis."

Iffley Leys Area Committee co-ordinator Fergus La Page said the council would talk to City Estates about regeneration.

"There is no formally agreed time frame, but there is a sense of urgency that we need to turn things around," he said.