Proposals to close a main street to traffic would not prevent businesses from having goods delivered - after town council officials listened to business leaders.

 

Businesses in South Street, Bridport, hit out at town council 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, 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."