City councillor bids for public consultation over future of Southampton road
There are plans to reopen Bedford Place to motorists after its closure during lockdown - but some councillors disagree with the idea
A city councillor said there should be a public consultation over plans to reopen a busy Southampton road.
Bargate councillor Sarah Bogle said Bedford Place should remain car-free throughout the summer and a public consultation should follow before any final decision is taken.
Cllr Fitzhenry, leader of the Conservatives, said a public consultation has already been held and the temporary scheme was designed to support businesses recover from the pandemic.
He said businesses only will be consulted again on the road closure.
But he added that the entire transport plan will be reviewed and “if there are concerns raised about certain areas including Bedford Place we will be reviewing that.”
The news comes as the road was closed in August last year to provide seating for bars and restaurants.
The controversial move was put in place by the Labour administration at Southampton City Council.
But the Conservatives – who won control of the council in this year’s elections – said they plan to reopen the road.
It comes as last year some local businesses called on the council to reopen Bedford Place as they said they lost the passing trade due to the road closure.
But others welcomed the pedestranisation of the area.
Earlier this week Cllr Dan Fitzhenry – who is set to become the new council leader- pledged to consult with businesses again before a final decision is taken and stressed that the temporary road closure was put in place to help businesses recover from the pandemic.
But Cllr Bogle said:
“The Conservatives talk about change for the better, but this approach is taking the city backwards. The sensible and democratic thing to do would be to allow the scheme to remain for the summer, asses its popularity and then hold a full public consultation.
"Businesses shouldn’t be the only ones who get a say in how our city is run. Local Councillors, residents and businesses have been feeding back through the open consultation, I’d urge the Tories to listen to what’s been said before bringing back the rat-run. ”
Cllr Fitzhenry said:
“The Bedford Place scheme was designed to support hospitality and social distancing as a result of Covid.
"This scheme was never a wider neighbourhood transport scheme and so any further consultation that we do would be with businesses in Bedford Place only to ensure that this temporary scheme is actually working for them.
"A full public consultation has already happened.”
He said the scheme will not be permanent because it was designed to support businesses recover from the pandemic.
However, Cllr Fitzhenry added:
“If there’s a wider wish for a permanent scheme then this is not the mechanism to deliver that and we will look at that, we will need to look at another option, not a temporary measure.
"We will be reviewing Labour’s entire transport plan and within that scope, if there are concerns raised about certain areas including Bedford Place we will be reviewing that.”