THREE new businesses have opened on a busy road - making the most of Colchester’s infamous traffic congestion.

As motorists travel bumper to bumper along Cowdray Avenue, they have the chance to look across at the new businesses.

Kerry Youngman has moved her business Animal Magic from Military Road to the new premises in Cowdray Avenue.

There she has bigger and better facilities and the chance to catch the eye of the slowly passing traffic.

Kerry, 56, who opened Animal Magic in 1992, has opened her new dog grooming parlour and dog training centre next to the newly-opened Persha Carpets and Flooring and the Red and Blue Flower shop.

Kerry, of Ipswich Road, Langham, said: “I’ve had a grooming parlour for 30 years which was a smaller shop.

“We’ve moved here because it is nice and new with a rustic feeling.

“Also, it is a great location because due to the slow traffic many drivers can see your business.”

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Customers were told of the change in location and Kerry has also arranged a pick-up and delivery service for customers who do not drive.

Perry Walsh, who owns Persha Carpets and Flooring, is now one of Animal Magic’s neighbours.

The family business has been established for 35 years and previously had a shop in Dovercourt.

Gazette: Family - Persha Carpets and Flooring is run by the entire familyFamily - Persha Carpets and Flooring is run by the entire family

Perry, 55, said he could not afford rent prices in Colchester until now.

The business owner said one of the reasons they decided to open the shop in Cowdray Avenue was the high volume of drivers who see the shop daily.

He said: “The traffic on Cowdray Avenue has always been really slow, so we thought it would be a good idea to open here, where many people can see you.

“So far everything is really nice, and we are enjoying it.”

Another shop making the most of Colchester’s clogged up street is the Red and Blues Flowers Shop, which has just opened.

Krystal Gatehouse has also started her new family-run business and opened her florist shop in the same road.

Krystal named her shop after two girls in the family, her daughter Daisy-Mai, known as Red, and her niece Elvina- Blue.

Ms Gatehouse said: “So together they make the Red and blues flowers.

“It was Paul Hiller, owner of The Leather Bottle pub and the Bonnie Blue Oak in Tiptree, who opened the shop by cutting the ribbon of our new business.”

Gazette: Florist - Krystal Gatehouse opened her shop Red and Blues Flowers shop Florist - Krystal Gatehouse opened her shop Red and Blues Flowers shop

There is set to be more traffic with plans to build a 262-home estate at the Cowdray Centre at the other end of the busy road.

Part of that site has been empty since 2006 when it was hit by a fire.