Businesses are rallying together to raise the £11,200 needed to review a controversial traffic system blamed for turning Abingdon into a ghost town.

Steve King, a former town retailer, has commissioned an independent review of the £3.1m Abingdon Integrated Transport Strategy, following traders' claims that profits have plummeted by as much as 75 per cent since its introduction 18 months ago.

Mr King, a private landlord who used to own Abingdon Motorcycles, has called on businesses to help fund the review, findings of which will be presented to Oxfordshire County Council.

So far, £8,800 has been pledged, including £2,000 from Mays Properties and £1,500 from MJA Consulting.

Mr King, 58, is waiting for paperwork to be completed before the two-week traffic review begins.

He also launched forum www.action4abingdon.org to drum up support.

He said: "Our forum is gathering strength and is producing some excellent ideas on how we can turn our beautiful town around."

Mr King also suggested appointing a town manager.

Last week, a petition from more than 200 traders was handed to the county council calling for changes to the traffic system.

Mr King said: "Much is happening, but there is much to do.

"Please bear with the traffic for a little longer, we have a firm undertaking from the county council and, one way or another, it will be sorted."

A second petition has been started by Steve Hamer, who is fed up with the long commute through Abingdon each day. His electronic petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ AbingdonTraffic has more than 460 signatures.

The news follows the announcement that the Jennifer Gerard Art Gallery, in Stert Street, is set to close for good.

And, as cabling works began in the High Street, Ahmed Masood, who owns nearby Lucy's Newsagents, said the pavement had been blocked off, meaning customers could not safely reach his shop.

The shopkeeper said: "It has been very, very quiet in my shop."