Firm quits town over traffic jams

Tony Hales, director of Stadia Trustees, said clients were becoming increasingly frustrated at the traffic and parking when they visited his old offices in St Peter's Street.

So, Mr Hales and other directors at the company, which deals in pensions, used cash from their own pensions to buy an office building at Langham Barns Business Centre, Langham Lane.

"I know what it's like to be located in the town centre and I can definitely say it's a better way of life out of town. Our clients, who like to come in to see us, were getting so frustrated and upset at the traffic and parking charges in Colchester that we had to please our clients. At Langham we have parking for visitors, it's close to the A12 and it's marvellous. We even have our own garden," said Mr Hales, who used to run a stockbrokering firm on Balkerne Hill for 26 years.

Mr Hales believes it is expensive for small businesses to buy premises in the town centre, so buying out of town offers the perfect opportunity.

"As well as being a lovely area to work in, converting old farm buildings into office space is a marvellous way to use redundant farm buildings. What else would happen to them?"

He added if other small businesses, like his, move out of town it could ease congestion and make the centre more attractive for shoppers and retailers.

"If you take the professionals and small businesses out it would be much better for their customers and it would leave the town centre freer for shoppers."

But Don Henshall, Colchester Council's business boss, is not so sure.

"I don't think Colchester is unique in its traffic situation. I can well understand clients not wanting to deal with traffic problems and for Mr Hales, he has made the right choice. It's also good to have businesses spread out across the borough.

"But a lot of businesses feel it's commercially better to stay in the town and we do want a mixture of businesses in the town. What would happen to the office space left behind?" he said.