A TAVISTOCK businessman blames the town's new-look square for forcing him into bankruptcy.

Eddie Carruthers of Barkells in Duke Street shut up shop for the final time last Wednesday — forced into the decision by gradually dwindling revenue.

Mr Carruthers said: 'Our takings were originally going up and up, but when the square started it levelled off.

'Gradually we started going down and we just got into real difficulties by the end of the year.'

Mr Carruthers said Barkells, a traditional tobacconist and gift shop, used to rely on a lot of trade from coach parties visiting the town.

He said coach drivers are now avoiding Tavistock because they can no longer park in the square.

'It's just too much hassle for them now,' he said.

Mr Carruthers said he would not feel so bad about closing if he thought the drop in trade was due to his own negligence, but he said the figures — corresponding to the town centre changes — told their own story.

'We've tried not to attack it but it just shows,' he said.

Kathy Carruthers agreed the lack of coach visitors in Tavistock had affected trade badly at Barkells.

'For the first couple of years I got to know what everybody wanted — this year I was all prepared and that was it — the visitors just weren't here.'

She welcomed incentives to attract coaches back to the town, but was not optimistic they would work.

'It's too little too late,' she said.

Mrs Carruthers thought people were using the town less than they used to.

'Somebody that might have come into Tavistock three or four times a week is only coming in once now — and if you don't want very much you're not going to pay for parking.'

Mr and Mrs Carruthers said they had been overwhelmed by the reaction of their customers when they closed the business last week.

'They are more like friends — people have been giving us cards and knocking on the door — it's so sad,' said Mrs Carruthers.

The shop is owned by Tavistock Town Council and is now available for rent.

Town clerk Roger Howard confirmed there had already been interest expressed in the premises which are currently the subject of a rent review.

The controversial Bedford Square enhancement scheme was completed last summer.

The scheme reduced the traffic lanes from four to two and extended the paved area in front of the town hall at the expense of parking for cars and coaches.