A Colchester trader has joined in the St Botolph's bus lane controversy - blaming it for a drop in customers and profit.

Andy Robinson, 29, who owns Smith's Butchers in Priory Walk, said the new road layout had damaged his business.

And he predicted shoppers would bypass Colchester altogether if it was not removed.

The warning follows two days of jams at the NCP car park in Osborne Street because of traffic light problems at the new road layout.

And today (Wednesday) sorting it became top priority as Colchester Council's Tory transport chief Chris Arnold met highways boss Barry Layzell to see if the bus lane could be suspended until traffic light problems were solved.

Mr Arnold said: "I am seriously concerned the repeated snarl-ups, for whatever reason, are putting even more people off coming to Colchester to shop.

"I shall be meeting Mr Layzell at St Botolph's this morning to discuss the safety implications of suspending the bus lane until the county council's contractor can get the traffic signals working properly."

Throughout the problems the council has stressed the scheme will improve when it is completed at the end of August with new state-of-the-art traffic light systems which monitor jams.

But Mr Robinson said at least a fifth of his 1,000 customers a week had complained about about the bus lane, saying long queues were deterring them from driving into the Queen Street area to shop.

He said: "I have noticed a decrease of about five per cent in customers since it was introduced and that equates to a drop of hundreds of pounds in profit.

"Other traders around here feel the same. If it continues this part of town could really suffer. People will go to alternative places to shop. It's hard enough as it is competing with supermarkets.

"Customers are saying they cannot just pop into town and get their groceries because it is a one or two hour operation."

He predicted bus lanes would never tempt people out of cars, especially in the colder winter months, and advised Colchester Council to scrap the St Botolph's one altogether.

Colchester Council's head of highways Barry Layzell said the St Botolph's Traders' Association was pleased with the bus lane, which opened in November, as it reduced pollution, traffic and improved safety.

And he pointed out shoppers should find it easier to get into town as access to the Britannia car-park had been improved as part of the scheme.

Work is under way on the town's fourth bus lane, at Middleborough, which should be open in October.

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