Frustrated traders and residents have condemned a council's "ineptitude".

Traders in St James's Street, Kemp Town, oppose Brighton and Hove Council's on-going development of the street.

They claim to have lost between 20 and 40 per cent of trade despite traffic being reduced in the area.

They maintain the problems will persist even when the work is finished.

The work, which is intended to reduce traffic, began in late-February and is budgeted at £820,000. It includes stopping left turns for vehicles going into St James's Street from Old Steine, new traffic signals near the same junction, and a ban on traffic, except buses and cycles, between 8am and 6pm in the eastern part of the road.

Traders complained that converting the road into a single-lane one-way system has actually increased congestion and pollution.

Emergency services have also experienced difficulties. Within the last two weeks, an ambulance has been stuck behind a queue of traffic and a police car had to drive on to the pavement to answer an emergency call.

Shop owners complained about major difficulties with deliveries. They have to ferry their goods more than 100 yards to shops because stopping or parking is banned in many sections of the street .

Cash Converters manager Jill Budd complained her custom has dropped by 30 per cent. She added: "When you deal in second-hand goods, like I do, people need easy access to your shop.

"If someone wants to buy a television, he doesn't want to have to carry it to his car through the back streets. It's as simple as that.

"If they find it so difficult to use my shop, then they won't use it."

Jackie Lythell, Labour councillor for Queen's Park ward, said the developments had been made in "full consultation" with local traders and residents.

She said: "The work is not going to please everyone. Much of the problem with congestion is actually caused by peopleparking illegally.

"I think we can do something about that to get traffic flowing properly.

"With regard to the other problems, all we can do is have a proper look at the situation."

Coun Lythell conceded that the location of the bus stop "is a problem and we need to deal with it".

The stop might be relocated to get traffic flowing again.

The work was scheduled to be completed within six months, but much of it has had to be re-done.

Mike O'Connell, of Blakers estate agents, said the work was "inept".

He said: "They lay it down and then just dig it up again because they haven't done it properly, it's not surprising that they're not going to finish it on time."

A council spokesman said: "The environmental improvements in St James's Street have been instigated by the local St James's Street Action Group, which was consulted at length."