THERE may be light at the end of the tunnel for the Court Drive area’s despairing business owners following a meeting with their MP.
Andrew Selous, MP for South West Beds, said that traffic is now flowing and parking is available after he liaised with shopkeepers on Thursday.
He told the Gazette: “The important thing is that we keep getting shoppers into the town centre – it is very open for business. You can park in Asda, the Quadrant and Regent Street.
Traders have said in recent weeks that Central Beds Council’s ‘streetscape’ refurbishment of Court Drive has caused so much traffic congestion they are fighting against bankruptcy.
But Mr Selous said: “I think the businesses realise it will be worth it and they really want to work with the council to promote the town.”
Mike Bloye, who runs Mike’s Fish and Chips in Vernon Place, is keen to initiate a campaign to breathe life into the area.
Mr Bloye said: “I don’t believe in lying down and letting somebody kick the hell out of me. I’m going to stand up and fight.”
He wants to encourage businesses to advertise each other in their shop windows and not to fall foul of the drop in footfall that he once said “absolutely will put me out of business”.
Mr Bloye also wants to organise an annual charity ‘Busway run’ from Luton to Dunstable when the guided busway project is complete to bring shoppers into the town.