A GREENGROCER has warned he could follow other traders and shut up shop because of disruption caused by the Bicester town centre redevelopment.

Arthur Eldridge, of Eldridge Growers, in Sheep Street, says he could shut in April if trade does not pick up.

His warning comes after Sheep Street shoe shop Clarks shut at the weekend and Regent’s Meat butchers, in Crown Walk, closed this month.

Last month, hair salon Andrea & Achille closed its Crown Walk branch and blamed the disruption.

Mr Eldridge said had business started to slow after his son Tony, 36, and grandson Bradley, four, died in a car crash in Bucknell Road, Bicester, last February. An inquest found Tony was almost three times over the drink-driving alcohol limit.

Mr Eldridge said: “People stayed away. Being a little family business, people couldn’t face me.”

The redevelopment, to create a new Sainsbury supermarket, six shops and a cinema, along with the partial closure of Crown Walk car park, has led to traffic problems in Manorsfield Road.

Mr Eldridge said the lack of free parking was also putting off shoppers, who were in-stead using out-of-town outlets.

He added: “I will probably have to close unless a miracle happens.”

A letter left in the window of Andrea & Achille says: “With all the chaos that these changes are causing in the town centre, we feel that our clients are finding it harder to park and are now not coming into Bicester due to traffic delays and the chaos that’s all around us.”

It added that the firm would consider returning once the redevelopment was finished.

Clarks Shoes spokesman Rob Trainor said: “The reason the store has shut is because the lease expired. Clarks made a business decision not to renew the lease.”

Les Sibley, a member of Bicester town and Cherwell district councils, said: “The council should have offered free parking for Bicester residents for the next few years, while the town centre development takes place.”

But Norman Bolster, the district council’s executive member for economic development, said: “It’s a tough time for retailers but we’re investing in the future of Bicester.

“The redevelopment has required some traffic management but to suggest it has caused chaos is a gross exaggeration.”

He said extra parking was provided in Cattle Market before the contractors moved in and parking charges had increased by 10p an hour in the past seven years.

However, the council has decided to increase fees next month, bring in evening fees and end free parking for disabled badge holders.