SHOPPERS are being driven away from Bicester because of “limbo” over the town centre redevelopment, a businessman has warned.

Mark Felton, who runs electrical appliance store Homegoods, said traders were suffering because of uncertainty about the £70m redevelopment.

The scheme by Cherwell District Council and Sainsbury’s, would see a multiplex cinema and new shops built on the site of Crown Walk and Bure Place.

However, delays caused by the refusal of at least one landowner to sell their plot, means the council is having to use compulsory purchase powers in Bure Place.

This could go to a public inquiry if there are objections, further lengthening delays to the development.

Preparatory work was supposed to have started in January, but legal wrangling saw that put back to August.

Building work should have started this autumn but will not now start until next spring at the earliest.

Mr Felton, who has run his shop in Deans Court for a number of years, opened a new branch of his business in Sheep Street earlier this year.

He said: “As a town centre retailer I have been to a few of the public meetings over the years and was led to believe that everything was ‘on track’. To read now that some of the land has to be subject to a compulsory purchase order, which could add another year of delay, is frustrating.”

In a joint statement, Sainsbury’s and the council said: “Developments of this scale are by their nature complicated, but Sainsbury’s and the district council are as keen as anyone to see the town centre redevelopment happen as quickly as possible.

“We are working flat out behind the scenes to conclude negotiations.”

Ben Jackson, chairman of Bicester Chamber of Commerce, said members felt assured the project would be finished in 2012.

He said: “We would reiterate our past comment, compromise and communication is a better way for the town as a whole than confrontation and compulsory purchase orders.”