Bendigo Traders Association members will discuss the six options released for comment by the City of Greater Bendigo and the State Transport Department.

Acting city CEO Stan Liacos said last week that the plans had been developed in direct response to issues raised by traders regarding pedestrian congestion on footpaths near bus stops in Mitchell Street.

Association president Neil Athorn said he hoped traders would be able to meet in the middle.

“What we want to do is just have a general discussion about it, and get some direction for the committee as to what our members want to do about it,” he told The Advertiser yesterday.

“It’s just a place to get together and air those sorts of thoughts.”

Mr Athorn said some committee members had told him they wanted a consultant hired so there was only one voice liaising with the city and the department.

“But others are saying that they want to express their own feelings in their own way,” he added.

If a consultant is employed, an association sub-committee will be formed to determine how they are advised and paid.

“If it gets down to it, that people are pushing to only have one consultant, then it will come down to some sort of a vote,” Mr Athorn said.

About 60 people are expected at tonight’s meeting, including up to 40 traders directly affected by the planned work.

Mr Athorn said the plans had not been well received.

“They don’t like it,” he said.

“I think I’ve found one shopkeeper that likes it.

“There are businesses that will survive having buses in front of them . . . but there are not enough of those to support the shops that are around.”

Mr Athorn said he still believed the answer lay elsewhere, saying: “I still push for a bus stop and car park . . . to be built one block from the CBD at the corner of Hargreaves and Edwards streets”.

The association is also expected to discuss the slowing redevelopment of the Hargreaves Mall.

The completion date has now been pushed forward to October 4.

“It’s getting awfully close to Christmas and things just aren’t getting done as quickly as we’d like to see,” Mr Athorn said.

Submissions on the Mitchell Street proposals can be made until July 17.