RETAIL giant John Lewis  would be unlikely to open a  major new store in Exeter if  two-way traffic is reinstated in  Paris Street, it has emerged.

Opinion is strongly divided  over allowing traffic to again  flow in both directions through  the city centre, according to  feedback collected during the  county council’s ongoing consultation.

But store bosses and council  officials claim the move would  seriously jeopardise the bid to  bring John Lewis to Exeter.

Talks are continuing with the  retailer about opening a large  department store at the current  Exeter bus station site.

And the city remains hopeful  of attracting the prestigious retailer following years of careful  negotiations.

But in correspondence sent to  the county council’s consultation, which has been seen by the  Echo, developers involved in  the deal have warned that John  Lewis would be reluctant to occupy the site if Paris Street reverts to two-way traffic.

They fear the increase in  vehicles would effectively cut  off the store from the High  Street and Princesshay and  would not appeal to the retailer.

Nick Davis, development director for retail for Princesshay  developer Land Securities,  which is also landlord for 30  shops in Paris Street and Sidwell Street, said: “We are in  dialogue with all the major retail operators and in particular  John Lewis.

“We very much understand  Exeter’s desire to see John  Lewis in the city.

“It has to be said they are very  demanding in their expectations that pedestrian and  vehicular movement is substantially segregated.

“We would be concerned in  terms of the longer term regeneration of the bus station  area if Paris Street reverted to  two-way.”

He added that if the city was  intent on securing a major anchor store — including John  Lewis — to this location, the  authorities would  need to think  very seriously about further  measures to reduce traffic  through the heart of the city.

He said: “This is to ensure  that pedestrian footfall is high  enough to justify the investment.”

His view is backed by Andrew  McNeilly, centre manager for  the Guildhall Shopping Centre,  who called for the complete pedestrianisation of Paris Street.

He said: “If traffic continues  to be allowed in Paris Street —  and if two-way traffic is reinstated, the commercial viability  for a developer to invest in the  bus station site is significantly  negatively affected.

“Land Securities has talked to  John Lewis on many occasions  about the bus station site.

 “It is clear that one of their  significant reservations is this  traffic barrier on the upper part  of Paris Street. Ideally, the investor would wish to see all  traffic removed, or alternatively creating a bus only street  the same as the High Street.”

John Rigby, director of economy and development at Exeter City Council, recently revealed in the Echo he wanted to  see much wider pedestrianisation of the city centre.

In his submission to the Paris  Street consultation he said: “In  order to ensure that a scheme  for the redevelopment of the bus  station site is viable, it is important to remove the traffic  barrier to ensure that the bus  station site is properly tied in to  the rest of the city centre.”

Paris Street was temporarily  made one-way in 2006 during  the building of Princesshay,   which became permanent once  the shopping area was opened.

But the decision has proved  controversial with residents  and councillors divided on the  issue.

Many believe that it has added to congestion in Sidwell  Street, with traffic no longer  having a straight route through  the city from New North Road to  Heavitree.

A report produced by the  county council has since  claimed the one way system has  reduced traffic approaching the  Sidwell Street/High Street junction from both new North Road  and Paris Street by 30 per cent.

But this figure has been disputed by city taxi drivers, who  have constantly complained  about traffic backing up along  Sidwell Street.

It is understood that it would  cost up to £200,000 to make the  road two-way again.

City centre manager John  Harvey strongly urged highways bosses not to reinstate  two-way traffic.

“The key issue to come  through is the importance of  connectivity between both sides  of Paris Street and Sidwell  Street and the bus station with  the High Street and Princesshay,” he said.

“It is critical that we work  together in creating the pedestrian-friendly city centre that  will help us to ensure we secure  the much-needed inward investment to allow the process of city  centre change and renewal that  we have been steering through  over the last decade to continue.”

A John Lewis spokesman said  Exeter was a major retail centre  and it was monitoring what was  happening in the city.

 The responses submitted during the consultation will be discussed by councillors in April.

Tomorrow the Echo looks at  the arguments for reinstating  two-way traffic to Paris Street.