A GROWING number of traders have criticised Glasgow City Council's plans to restrict traffic access to George Square.

Measures to introduce a bus gate, barring private cars from Nelson Mandela Place and West George Street, were announced last week. The council said the plans will make the area safer for pedestrians and cut pollution.

Alex Winter, who owns Madison's takeaway on George Street, said: "If the men in charge are saying they want cleaner air, they would have needed to start this 50 years ago.

"Just because they're going to shut a street, or part of a street, you'll never get clean air. The buses throw out more muck than anything; it's just the city council being blinkered and not listening."

The bus gate plan would cut traffic by up to 70% around George Square, with all vehicles apart from bicycles banned from the road outside the City Chambers.

Motorists wishing to enter the square are likely to be diverted up Hope Street, along Cowcaddens Road and down North Hanover Street.

Roads bosses also plan to ban all vehicles, except cycles, from the section of George Square in front of the City Chambers, with the existing road raised to the same level as the Square.

Retractable bollards will allow access for emergency services or VIPs visiting the City Chambers. The direction of travel of service vehicles in Buchanan Street will be reversed between Bath Street and Nelson Mandela Place and between St 
Vincent Street and Nelson Mandela Place.

Alfredo Crolla, who owns Pizza Crolla at the corner of West George Street and Buchanan Street, also raised concerns. He said: "We depend on passing traffic. Business is bad enough as it is, without any further disruption like this."

In future, only buses, taxis, private hire cabs and cycles will be able to use the West George Street route.

A council spokesman said: "The proposed bus gate will work towards making the area safer for pedestrians, promote easier flow of public transport and cut down on pollution."