AN experiment to pedestrianise three Taunton town centre streets has received mixed reactions from businesses.

As part of an 18-month trial, East Street will be closed to traffic apart from buses and cyclists; vehicles will be barred from Hammet Street during the day; and St James Street, between North Street and Lower Middle Street, will be pedestrian-only.

The initiative, starting in the autumn and expected to reduce town centre traffic, would become permanent if judged successful.

But Steve Giles, of Bredons sewing machine shop in the East Gate area of East Street, fears it could be detrimental to trade.

He said: "When the road was closed to replace the traffic lights last year it was the worst time in my 30-year history of retailing.

"It was really bad in terms of trading and a lot of people down in East Reach said the same.

"You have to ask why they dug up the road outside our shop at vast amounts of money to install new traffic lights knowing they were going to close the road for 18 months this year - where's the logic in that?

"They call it an 18-month trial, but we all know it'll be permanent."

Michael Dukes, a partner at Hammet Street-based Greenslade Taylor Hunt, said: "I can understand why this experiment is being looked at.

"Despite the inconvenience to my business, I'm cautiously in favour if it's going to re-energise the retail sector of Taunton.

"I have concerns about St James Street - we need to avoid it becoming like High Street, which at times is like Tumble Weed City with its lack of traffic. It may make the experience better for pedestrians, but it could make the whole sector soulless."

Mr Dukes added it is essential that the town's Northern Inner Distributor Road is opened and the traffic lights on Haydon Road are amened to allow "proper sequencing".

A trader operating in St James Street for ten years said: "The road closure will cause severe traffic problems for the town, which will have a detrimental effect, along with the demise of much of the parking around the River Tone area."

Announcing the scheme, Taunton Deane Borough Council planning and transport lead Cllr Roger Habgood said the aim is to create a better environment for residents, shoppers and visitors, attracting investment and allowing businesses to thrive.

Cllr Simon Coles, opposition LibDem leader, welcomed pedestrianising the town centre.

But he added: "Taunton does not yet have an effective network of roads to allow residents to move around the town without using the town centre.

"The NIDR is many years past its original deadline.

"The Conservatives have allowed thousands of houses to be planned without the roads and transport schemes that should accompany them.

"Residents from areas like south and west Taunton will face huge growth in traffic being channelled into the town centre with no alternative route."