'RIDICULOUS': Bridport businesses hit out at £50,000 proposed trial to pedestrianise South Street

Bridport Town Council will ask businesses and residents for their views ahead of a trial pedestrianisation of the road, which could take place next spring, subject to Dorset County Council permission.

The county council told The News that it did not know if the plans were possible without “more detailed investigations and consultation” by the town council.

At a packed town hall meeting on Tuesday, businesses spoke out against the plans to shut off South Street and labelled the idea of a trial before any consultation as “ridiculous”.

Cllr Keith Day said he was “fundamentally opposed” to pedestrianising the road and hit out at the cost of a trial closure.

He said: “We may spend £50,000 and end up with nothing. People at County Hall will be making the decision and not us.”

Councillors agreed to carry out a public consultation ahead of a trial closure of the road.

A consultation in 2001 found that more than 60 per cent of residents supported the selective closure of South Street on market days, but that a number of traders, mostly from South Street, opposed a closure.

Speaking at the meeting, president of Bridport Business, Robert Muhl, said: “Bridport Business would like to know what the outcome will be if the consultation finds that Bridport is not in support of a trial closure. Will this be an end to the uncertainty this 15-year period has placed on town centre businesses?

“An important aspect of the consultation questions should be to establish whether a respondent feels any change should be made to the existing access in South Street, as there is an argument for the town centre remaining as it stands at present.

“Initial responses across our membership have indicated the majority of our members would not be in favour of any closure of South Street or changes to access.”

South Street businesswoman Debbie Peach criticised the draft consultation questions.

She added: “I think it would be ridiculous to go ahead with any of this without consulting businesses first.

“We get three or four deliveries a day. Most of those businesses are independently run and large businesses.”

But Lewis Gerolemou spoke as a former business owner in Canterbury and said that pedestrianisation had increased footfall “astronomically”.

Town clerk Bob Gillis said the issue is “raised with the town council at regular intervals” and there will be “extensive consultation” with businesses and residents.

Former mayor Cllr Sandra Brown, said the council “chickened out” of making a decision on in 2001.

She added: “That was a mistake and it’s a mistake that we should not do again.” We must do the trial to really know whether it’s right or wrong and go ahead with this.”

Members of the public spoke at Bridport Town Council's meeting

CONCERNS have also been raised that closing South Street could add to traffic problems across the 
town. 

An initial study by Dorset County Council found a closure at the top of South Street would cause a “substantial increase” in traffic on Sea Road South and Gundry Lane while resident Carole Murless said it could turn part of Skilling into a “rat run”.

Options put forward include making South Street one-way, a full closure, occasional closure such as on market days or creating a shared space. 

The public could also be asked about putting 20mph restrictions on some town centre roads.

Members of the public spoke out at Tuesday’s meeting in support of a closure, with suggestions a mini-roundabout at the junction with West and East Street could eliminate traffic problems.

Mike Farmer said a closure could bring about “a new and beneficial traffic era”.

He added: “Currently, traffic volumes have completely overwhelmed traffic lights. They are no longer the solution, they are the problem.”

Town crier John Collingwood added his support to closing South Street.

He said: “The town is for people, not for cars.

“If we could have an open space, it would be an even more wonderful town then it is at the moment.”