PROPOSALS to close South Street to traffic would not prevent businesses from having goods delivered - after town council officials listened to business leaders.

In March, the News reported that South Street businesses hit out at Bridport Town Council's proposals to pedestrianise the road with some firms saying it would "ruin" trade. A trial closure has been proposed following a public consultation.

Leader of Bridport Town Council, Cllr Sarah Williams and town clerk Bob Gillis, met with Bridport Business Chamber to listen to traders' views about the plans.

Addressing the town council's plans committee on Monday (5), Mr Gillis said: "I have made some amendments to the consultation from what members of the chamber of trade said.

"We have said quite clearly that deliveries will be allowed for businesses in any closure.

This will all be subject to the approval of the county council. Should the outcome of the consultation show that people support a trial closure, then it's for you as a council to decide on the basis of the responses and confirm the costings to put the closure in."

He added: "There's still a long way to go and it's very early early stages.

"It's very important that we get this as right as we can. It's not meant to cover every possible eventuality - at this stage we are getting people's views. We are asking to check their top three issues and say they whether they support the trial closure."

Mr Gillis said the consultation will be launched later this month, and if the findings support a closure, along with the views of Highways England, the trial could take place next spring, subject to approval by Dorset County Council.

He added: "We are going to have hard copies of the questionnaire sent to the businesses and we will be encouraging people to complete the survey online.

"I think we are doing as much as we possibly can. It will be ultimately the decision of the county council if we go ahead.

"The time scale will be that the consultation will be started at the end of June and run for two months so we will have draft proposals in October. If it's all approved, the trial would take place from March to May next year."

Cllr Eddie Colfox asked how the town council would ensure that people do not submit multiple responses to the consultation. Mr Gillis said people would be asked to provide their post code and hard copies will have unique numbers but that ultimately the authority will need to "trust people's honesty".

Cllr Sarah Horniman asked whether a trial closure on market days only could be an option, but Mr Gillis said it was important to know what the impact is when the road is closed.