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As an independent business owner in Smith Street Warwick, I feel compelled to express my horror and dismay at the traffic proposals I have seen put forward for Smith Street.

In this tough economic climate and constant uncertainty about the long term future of the 'High Street' I can only imagine that these plans will be the final nail in the coffin for the future of Smith Street and many of it's businesses, all of which are owned independently. If the proposed prevention of a right turn from Smith Street into St Nicholas Church Street is implemented, cars will simply avoid Smith Street, if they are unable to go back the way they have come ie. back to the Castle Hill roundabout. It is difficult to imagine where the traffic will go - Emscote Road, Coventry Road or maybe the intention is to prevent traffic using Smith Street altogether, but not only will this have a negative impact on businesses there, it will also create significant traffic congestion in other areas of the town. At peak times, Warwick already gets extremely congested. The traders of Smith Street rely on traffic flowing down the street as this enables existing customers to visit and for new ones to discover what is on offer as they pass through. Without this constant flow of traffic, customers will go elsewhere and go to places that are easier to get to. This will be a total disaster, not only for Smith Street, but the town as a whole. Many people visiting my shop tell me they love to visit Warwick to have a look around all the lovely quirky little shops - Warwick, they say, is different from so many of the other 'High Streets' - it has a unique feel because it doesn't have all the leading high street names making it feel that you could be on any high street, in any town. Smith Street, the oldest shopping street in Warwick will be deserted if these plans are introduced.

It seems odd that only recently, WCC were supposedly supporting an increase in footfall for local businesses, with significant funding for 'Operation Footfall', an initiative aimed at encouraging people to shop in Warwick and now a few months later the same people are proposing to implement something which will completely discourage people from visiting Smith Street and it's many and varied businesses. Why?

I would please urge serious reconsideration of this proposal which will have a catastrophic effect on Smith Street businesses if it goes ahead.