MORE than 200 traders in Abingdon today called for changes to a controversial traffic scheme, saying customers have been driven away.

Since the implementation of the £3.1m Abingdon Integrated Transport Strategy (Abits) some retailers claim takings have plummeted by as much 75 per cent as motorists stay away to avoid congestion in the town.

The businesses have set up a pressure group called Action 4 Abingdon and are poised to dip into their pockets after commissioning their own £10,000 independent review of the new traffic layout.

Former town retailer Steve King gathered a 240-name petition, which was presented to Oxfordshire County Council today, calling for changes to the scheme.

Mr King, 58, a private landlord who used to own Abingdon Motorcycles, said: "It has been catastrophic. The majority of businesses in the town have taken a massive hit in their turnover.

"Many retailers are reporting between a 15 and 25 per cent drop in takings but some are saying it has been as much as 75 per cent."

As part of the the controversial scheme, Stratton Way was changed from a one-way into a two-way road and changes to traffic lights on Bridge Street have also been criticised.

The owner of a local taxi firm said they had stopped picking up fares in the town centre between 7.30am and 9.30am and 4.30pm to 6.30pm to avoid being stuck.

Jason Atherton, of Auto Taxis on the Radley Road industrial estate, said: "It's absolutely crippling. People are not coming to Abingdon. This scheme has killed the daytime trade. We may have to lay off staff."

Presenting the petition at County Hall, Abingdon West councillor Mike Badcock said councillors must be honest and admit they got the new traffic system wrong.

He said: "It has become the butt of jokes, which some may find amusing, but it is directly affecting the livelihood of hundreds of people."

The Abits scheme was implemented in September 2006 after agreement from the town council, Vale of White Horse District Council and the county council.

County council leader Keith Mitchell said: "I've got no problem with an independent review of the scheme. I'm getting lots of grumbles about it.

"If it was proved that independent review of the scheme was credible and undertaken by an expert we may be prepared to match fund it.

"We are listening and we are willing to make changes to try to make the system work."