A SENIOR councillor has set out his plan for an area of town which has "suffered" since the bus station was moved.

Colchester bus station moved to Osborne Street from Queen Street in 2013 and since then council leader Paul Smith said shops in Priory Walk have suffered from a lack of footfall.

Sainsbury's is still based there but high street chemist Superdrug and shoe shop Scholl, among others, have closed their stores. The former Superdrug premises is to let for £47,500 per year.

Now Mr Smith has set out his hope for the privately owned precinct to become a "niche" shopping street in a bid to revive the area.

He said: "I think it is fair to say Priory Walk has suffered because of the change in footfall in the town centre.

"When we had the old bus station, it was a great through-way to the town centre. But the bus station has moved and Priory Walk is no longer on that route.

"I think now a full-scale retail offer would suffer because you wouldn't necessarily go there.

"I think what we need there is something people would specifically go for and I think to do that you've got to look at small businesses and niche retailers and with easy-in, easy-out leases."

Mr Smith said he hoped the provision of one or two-year leases would attract young businesses.

The council leader also said the empty units in Priory Walk would be suitable for small businesses which are currently housed in the Colchester Creative Business Centre, in Queen Street.

Priory Walk was referred as a town centre regeneration site during the two-week Tollgate Village planning appeal hearing.

It is across the road from the planned £30 million 'food and drink-led quarter', which is proposed to replace the old bus station and former Keddies department store.

Curzon cinema, in nearby Roman House, is set to open in the autumn.