TRADERS have called on Colchester Council and Essex County Council to do more to help them bring in customers.

Three more shops within 100 metres of each other in Colchester town centre have shut down.

Snowboarding and skate shop Double Cork, in Culver Street East, clothes shop Zenna and shoe shop Price Less, both in the High Street, have closed.

Business owners said the town was being “held back” because the High Street is not pedestrianised and there is no park and ride.

Nicholas Ambrose, manager of Nicholas Jewellers, in the High Street, said: “Business is difficult.

“My personal opinion is not pedestrianising the High Street and not having park and ride stops Colchester from competing with other towns. It won’t be a remedy to all traders’ problems, but it will improve the situation.”

Sarah Donaldson, of Red Lion Books, in the High Street, said Colchester Council needed pay attention to detail.

She said: “The council keeps the streets quite clean, but it’s the silly little things that brings Colchester down.

“They have been rebuilding the steps at Angel Court since Christmas and you can hardly get through with a pushchair. It stops people coming into the High Street. Colchester needs to look more inviting.”

Dave Williams, the owner of hardware store Jacks, in St Nicholas Street, which warned last month it could close due to a drop in trade, said bringing a market back to the High Street could revive businesses.

He said: “The market has been torn apart since it moved from the High Street.

“It used to be so busy, but now the stalls are dotted here, there and everywhere.

“The Christmas market brought thousands of people to Colchester. I think they should move it back to the High Street on a Saturday.”