Re-development 'putting off customers'

About £135m is to be spent on the Princesshay area

Traders in a Devon city say they are concerned about their future in the run-up to a planned re-development of the city centre.

A major overhaul of Exeter's Princesshay shopping area has begun, but demolition work does not start until 2005.

A number of smaller traders in the precinct are worried a lack of investment by developers Land Security means the area has started to look a bit shabby and is putting people off.

But a local information centre set up by Land Security says it has seen scores of people coming in to ask about the future development and to see how it will unfold.

The £135m scheme, which includes plans for 50 new shops and restaurants, is expected to be completed by 2007.

However, businesses in the street say they are losing money because of the number of boarded-up shops putting off customers.

But Exeter City Centre Manager John Harvey says everything is being done to keep the place as vibrant as possible.