TOWN centre retailers are reporting mixed fortunes in the run-up to Christmas.

Several shops are reporting a drop in sales, with some suggesting it could be attributed to the recent problems with congestion in and around the town.

The Herald last week reported how the owners of Remarkable Impressions in Cambridge Place were thinking of relocating to Brighton because traffic congestion was hitting their takings.

WH Smith, in The Borough, is down on its projected takings, reporting figures barely on a par with last year.

Assistant manager Craig Fowler told The Herald that he thinks this could be due to the problems with the traffic lights in South Street and that it was "too much hassle getting into town, people would rather go to Guildford".

This was echoed by Steven Maskell, manager of the Woolmead Sony Shop. Sales at the hi-tec retailer had been steady but last week saw them fall below projected sales.

If the figures do not pick up towards the end of the week, he was considering starting the Jauary sale before Christmas.

Mr Maskell told the Herald: "If people have to queue up for ages before they come into park they just are not going to bother." Mr Maskell also called the general traffic situation in Farnham " a nightmare".

Meanwhile, staff at Eureka Jewellers in Downing Street said their trade had also been affected by the traffic light problems in South Street. They told the Herald it was a "ludicrous" situation, but that sales were beginning to pick up towards the last full week of business before Christmas.

Staff at Curry's on The Borough said they had seen a sales drop of "up to 15 per cent" This was attributed to competition from the Curry's superstore in Farnborough.

Slightly depressed trading was also reported by Our Price in the Borough. However manager James Tribe said that while sales were down, the average spending of each customer was up.

He was unable to link this fall to any specific cause, but said that consumer spending dynamics meant he expected a busy last week before christmas.

This was echoed at Boots, where manager Ron Harrold said sales were very much in line with expectations. They were expecting to increase trade closer to Christmas, with people buying last minute stocking fillers.

The Toy Shop, on Downing Street, also reported sales in line with expectations.

Elphicks department store on West Street reported that they are just breaking even in terms of sales this Christmas period. This is after they recorded an increase of 12 per cent a year ago. Elphicks managing director, Stuart Palmer, attributed much of this to the global economic downturn and the fact that last year's increase meant they had set high targets.

He added that the local traffic situation was a contributing factor to the slowdown in trade generally because it was "putting people off".

A number of Elphicks customers had been remarking to staff about the difficulty they were having getting into and around town, and gettng into the central car park.

Mr Palmer has written to Surrey County Council about the installation of the traffic lights in South Street. He feels it was a bad decision to begin the work so close to the Christmas period.

Several retailers were reporting good sales. Laura Ashley in the Lion & Lamb Yard have seen a sales increase of approximately 10 per cent over this time last year.

This was attributed to the shop's current promotion and the fact it is opening on Sundays in the build-up to Christmas.

Alexander's Jewellers, on Castle Street, were also seeing "buoyant" sales.

Robert Dyas, on Downing Street, reported good sales, up by 15 per cent on last year in the week ending December 8.