UP 'A' Bridge casts a long dark shadow on firms as far away as King Street, Wallasey.

Battyre - established 1962 - is one of many shops suffering because the bridge has cut off passing trade between Wallasey and Birkenhead.

Owner Tom Ferguson says business at his motor factors has dropped nearly 40 per cent. It has been getting steadily worse over the last few months.

He thinks traders have a case in the European Parliament for loss of livelihood: "Wirral Council, it says in the Globe, is concerned regarding the effect on local businesses. I don't think they are in the real orld. They should come this side of the counter. Until the Globe took up the story, we had not even been told why there was a delay in re-opening the bridge. And we still haven't been told when it is likely to re-open.

"The Council may be going for compensation from the contractors but what do traders get out of it? We should have compensation, too, plus a reduction in business rates.

"Here I am investing in the community and providing a local service. Several shops in King Street are already boarded up. There will be more if the bridge doesn't come down soon."

Battyre has a loyal customer base from Wallasey and Birkenhead, but passing trade has been hit.

"People are reluctant to pop over from Birkenhead because of traffic congestion at Duke Street and the extra mileage," says Tom, who enjoys chatting to customers at the counter.

"People in the motor trade say they are being hit, too, by the Four Bridges being off. The way firms are being destroyed is madness. I had to laugh at the story in the paper about Mr Hitler keeping the bridge off to get his U-Boat out. The bridge is certainly blitzing business."

Reports by Robin Bird

and Samantha Castle

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.