Calls for temporary closure of Shaftesbury High Street for market day
It will be on Thursday mornings
Dorset Council is being asked to approve a temporary closure of Shaftesbury High Street on Thursdays, until 2pm, to allow the town’s market to take place.
The street has been partially closed to traffic since June 2020.
Depending on Covid number that could come to an end on July 19th when Government emergency Covid legislation is withdrawn.
In a separate move the town council is exploring a more permanent pedestrianisation priority scheme for the street with Dorset Council.
The town claims there is overwhelming support to reduce traffic in the street although at least one town councillor claims it is not supported by some traders and a number of residents.
This scheme, if approved, would need to be managed via an entirely separate project as a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) – although these can take up to two years to bring about.
the town council says the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order was introduced in June 2020 to enable the High Street to re-open safely as part of the Covid 19 recovery process.
Said a town council news release:
“The narrow pavements make it impossible to deliver the government guidelines around 2m social distancing therefore the temporary pedestrianisation was introduced purely to facilitate public safety.
“As the weeks evolved feedback on the shopping experience, both positive and negative, was received. In August 2020 a shopper survey was undertaken and further feedback was gathered from a survey in May 2021.
“Business surveys were also undertaken during 2020 and again in May 2021 with 83% of shop owners/ representatives stating the temporary pedestrianisation was having a positive effect on their business.”
The town council says it welcomes views on the proposals from residents and has pledged to keep the town informed about the next steps as a more permanent scheme is developed over the coming weeks and months.
Said Cllr Piers Brown, the lead member for economic development:
“Temporary pedestrianisation of the High Street has been a great success, helping our amazing shops through the extremely difficult trading year. With +86% of shoppers and +84% of businesses supporting the pedestrianisation becoming permanent, I hope Dorset Council will accept our application so the High Street can continue to buck the national trend and flourish”