Calls for city road to remain closed throughout summer
Bedford Place in Southampton was shut to traffic to allow more outdoor seating
Businesses are “happy” they will keep their outdoor seating when a busy Southampton road reopens to traffic.
Beards and Boards, Retro Cafe, Halliday’s Tearooms and Diegos in Bedford Place had been using tables and chairs in the street’s disused on-street parking spaces.
Some of the businesses previously said the loss of outdoor seating could force them to close.
But now Southampton City Council has said they can retain the seating when the road reopens on July 19.
Ashley Delong, co-owner of Retro Cafe, said: “We are really happy with the outcome.
“I think it is going to help us greatly, people still want to sit outside when they can so it is really going to help us.”
Councillor Jeremy Moulton, cabinet member for growth at Southampton City Council, said the disused parking spaces may even eventually be turned into an extended pavement.
He said: “In due course we would look to turn these sections of the road in to extended pavements and public realm.
“Timescales for that would likely be from spring next year and we will also be looking to codesign a wider public realm improvement scheme with residents, customers and businesses over the autumn.”
Council transport bosses said there will be consultations on further measures and stressed the decision to reopen the road comes after 57 per cent of local businesses were in favour.
But the Labour group on the authority is calling on the newly-elected Conservative administration to keep the road closure in force throughout summer.
Labour councillors in Bargate, Bevois and Freemantle wards surveyed residents living near Bedford Place and found that 478 out of 769 were in favour of the closure.
The Labour group said 115 were against it and 176 did not have a particular view.
Bargate councillor Sarah Bogle, shadow spokesperson for transport, said: “Residents deserve to have their voice heard in any decision. We are calling on the Conservative administration to allow this scheme to continue through the summer to allow a proper assessment on its effects, and to consult local people before making a decision on its future.”
She said some residents suggested the road closure should continue until the end of the summer while others were said to be in favour of evening closures.
Cllr Moulton said the reopening must go ahead, but evening closures were possible from next year.
He said: “We have tried very hard to balance all the passionate views around Bedford Place and are looking as far as possible for a win-win outcome.”