GRIDLOCKED traffic through Lancaster and Morecambe has caused several businesses to close down. And it could carry on wiping out trade.

That's the claim of businessman Malcolm McRae, who says he was forced to close his paint supply firm because his deliveries were constantly stuck in traffic.

He knows others who are in the same boat - and sys that if a link road to the south is not constructed many more businesses may be forced to shut.

Says Mr McRae, of Heysham: "My wife and I ran a business on Northgate, White Lund, delivering paints and motor parts. But we had to sell the business - and one of our main reasons was the difficulty in getting deliveries to our customers in heavy and often gridlocked traffic.

"I have run businesses on both the Lune and White Lund industrial estates and have experienced difficulties of my staff delivering stock and customers getting to both sites."

Mr McRae says it was just not viable because deliveries were too often stuck in traffic. But he firmly believes that a Western bypass would be a 'lifeline' to local businesses.

"I have lived in Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham for 53 years, over these years I've been appalled at some of the decisions taken by our local and county council officials.

"I would say that 95 per cent of my vehicles came from the South and surely this must apply across the board to the vast majority of businesses and retail premises in and around this area.

"The Western bypass will do exactly what it says on the tin. We have an expanding Heysham port, housing development in Morecambe and Heysham and the huge industrial areas of White Lund, Vickers and Middleton estates yet all the traffic at the moment is coming through Lancaster. They will all want to use the Western bypass."

He adds: "The long suffering, driving public of Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham would also be able to use new links from the Western bypass to Luneside West, Marsh and Abraham Heights, the Scotforth and University area, and onto the M6."