HALF of the shops are now boarded up along Cromwell Road in Redhill, labelled an 'eyesore'.
Borough councillor Natalie Bramhall, who is also in charge of regeneration, says she is "embarrassed" to have it in her ward.
Half of the parade opposite the Belfry Shopping Centre, with flats and offices above, is owned by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, with the rest privately-owned. It was due to be bulldozed along with two blocks of flats and the Salvation Army Hall, to make may for an Asda store.
But the Mirror revealed last month the plan is in jeopardy. Asda submitted a planning application in 2011, but talks between store bosses and the council broke down months ago.
Philip Wheeler, 76, lived in Cromwell Road as a child when the street had a delicatessen, a baker's, a bike shop, a restaurant and two barber shops among its businesses.
"It is an eyesore now," he said. "It used to be a thriving parade. Now it's a bit of a dump."
Mrs Bramhall blamed Asda for the impasse. She said: "I feel they have treated us as a council incredibly badly."
She said store bosses had refused to contribute to a "balanced network" scheme to revert the town's one-way system back to two-way.
"Everybody else who has plans in or plans approved is contributing to the balanced network where it affects them," she added. "Why should it be different for Asda?
"I feel they have left the council and the residents in limbo for way too long. It is embarrassing for me as a Redhill West councillor that the bit that the council owns is in my ward. I have said we need to pin Asda down and get them to either say 'yes, we are running with it' or 'no'. If it is no, I have told the officers to give me a plan B for the site that we own."
Ahmad Faisal has owned a mini mart on Cromwell Road since 2007. He said: "All the shops down here were occupied when I came here. But now there is so much uncertainty. There is no information about what is happening. I speak to my landlord and he says Asda haven't got in touch at all, but last time I spoke to someone from Asda a few months ago, he said it is all going to happen."
Residents in the flats which were due to be pulled down are also concerned.
One mum who didn't want to be named, said: "We haven't heard anything. At the moment we are just living in limbo."
Asda have not returned the Mirror's calls.
