BUS timetables have been changed after traders in Southbourne claimed queuing vehicles were making life a “nightmare”.

Wilts and Dorset claims the changes will mean its buses are no longer forced to wait for long periods of time outside shops in Southbourne Grove.

Changes were introduced on Sunday June 3 and it is hoped buses will no longer have to queue in a bus stop, making deliveries difficult to some shops and causing noise nuisance.

Retailers have complained they are losing business because they can’t be seen from passing vehicles when buses are parked for long periods of time.

They also claim the the buses pose a risk to passing motorists and to pedestrians.

“It’s been a nightmare” said Tracy Frampton, owner of Southbourne Florists. “The noise is awful – it frightens people on the street and in my shop.”

And Martin Giles from printing shop Copy-it said the bus stop outside his business has been so busy he now describes it as “the bus station.”

A spokesman for Wilts and Dorset told the Daily Echo that changes to the timetable have removed some of the waiting time noticed by retailers.

“We have removed some of the spare time we allow for traffic congestion that can affect how on schedule a bus is running when compared to the timetable” he said. “The improved timetables will benefit the thousands of people we carry to Southbourne and retailers who have bus stops outside their premises.”