TRADERS in Headington are bracing themselves for the second phase of a £3.6m improvement scheme to combat traffic congestion in London Road.

Oxfordshire County Council is set to spend £2.3m to install a bus gate on the arterial route to reduce delays for Oxford-bound buses and spruce up Headington shopping precinct, as well as close the pedestrian subway under the road.

But road users will face up to nine months of delays if the work is approved by the council’s executive member for transport, Ian Hudspeth, next Thursday.

Hairdresser Matthew Clulee claimed he suffered a 35 per cent drop in business at his London Road shop during the first phase of the work. He said: “The roadworks have been far and away the worst problem.

“We had what was a really thriving business here, but now lots of our Headington customers go to our shop in Oxford, because they say it’s easier to get to.”

Steve Floyd, owner of Oxford Design and Photographic, said: “Headington is almost becoming a no-go area, because no-one really knows what’s happening with the roadworks.

“I’ve looked at the plans and it will be great when it’s done, but we have just had enough.”

Councillors and civic leaders have demanded the authority learns lessons from the £1.3m first phase of the scheme, which over-ran by two months and caused misery for more than 14,000 motorists who use the road every day.

James Bloice Smith, of the group Headington Action, which aims to improve the area, said: “We hope the management and staging of this project is hugely better.”

Community campaigner Mick Haines gathered 2,511 signatures on a petition in March to try to stop the closure of the subway.

Council officers have recommended that the second phase of works, in the area between Osler Road and Wharton Road, should begin next spring.