CONTROVERSIAL proposals put forward by Penarth Town Council to pedestrianise part of the town centre and implement a one-way traffic system have divided opinion.
Penarth Town Council has stressed the ideas are "points for discussion" before a formal proposal is put to the Vale Council. They also said a trial period will not take place in August and September.
Ideas, revealed by the town council in an online questionnaire on Friday, includes a pedestrianised “safe space” on Windsor Road from Arcot Street to the roundabout, including the bottom of Lower Glebe Street.
Other plans for Windsor Road could include “shared spaces” between pedestrians and traffic during set times, while another included only allowing service traffic – such as delivery vehicles – to access Windsor Road and Lower Glebe Street.
One of the major points for discussion is around proposals for a one-way traffic system incorporating Albert Road, Stanwell Road, Hickman Road, Arcot Street, Glebe Street and Ludlow Lane.
The town council say the one-way system would enable more chevron parking on Plassey Street, Albert Road and Stanwell Road.
Ceri McCann, Rachel Came and Karen Hatton at Andrea’s Flower Boutique on Glebe Street, think the town will suffer if pedestrianisation plans go ahead.
“Penarth isn’t the type of place you come to and spend a day, it’s a place people come and park up and quickly do some shopping,” they said. “Businesses are already feeling the impact of lower footfall due to the social distancing parking trials, and to add this to the mix is poor timing.”
The plans also include additional bus stops, including one right outside Joan Paines’ funeral directors.
She says buses stopping outside her shop every half an hour - combined with the one-way system - would be likely to cause too much congestion.
“My main concern is the congestion and the impact that will have on my customers,” she said. “It is not nice to have so much noise, fumes, and congestion outside when you’re trying to sort out a funeral.”
Ms Paines suggested a bus terminal at Station Approach, and said she thinks a one-way system around the town will also cause heavy traffic on smaller roads such as Railway Terrace, Grove Terrace and Woodland Place.
Resident and member of Friends of the Earth Barry and Vale Max Wallis said he is in support of partial pedestrianisation, but questioned the one-way system idea.
Mr Wallis said that a one-way system would “worsen traffic and add to town centre pollution”, adding: “Covid-19 will force new thinking. People see the benefits of more walking and cycling. Some shops and businesses will close, with more online shopping. The town centre must become more a meeting and activity place; access by bus or bike is more attractive with the reduced traffic.”
Strategic consultant John Jackson, who lives in Penarth, is in favour of partial pedestrianisation of Windsor Road on a trial basis.
“This system works abroad, and works abroad in places where the weather isn’t always nice,” he said. “I think Penarth needs to be a more attractive environment post lockdown, and that would involve some sort of pedestrianisation.
“I think the idea to close off Windsor Road from Lower Glebe Street to the roundabout isn’t a bad one, and could instil some confidence for future changes.
“What I would question is whether the timing is right so soon after businesses have reopened.”
Five hundred people have responded to the town council survey so far.
Cllr Nigel Humphrey - for St Augustines - said: “People have been responding to the survey as if it is a done deal, when in fact it is intended as part of a constructive dialogue about the future of our town centre."
Gideon Calder of Gwyrddio Penarth Greening (GPG) said: “From conversations with people, some are assuming that the current arrangement in the town centre – the bollards and one-way system – is the same thing as these alternative ideas about creating safer space.
"In fact these plans are quite different. They’re intended as a solution to many of the problems which people are identifying with things as they are.”
In a questionnaire circulated to traders by Penarth Business Group which was passed onto the town council, of the 58 responders (out of 133), 56.9 per cent said they against part of Windsor Road becoming a traffic free zone. 52.6 per cent said they were in favour of a one-way system being introduced to the town centre. 84.2 per cent said they were in favour of using wider roads for chevron parking.
If you would like to find out more about the proposals visit https://www.penarthtowncouncil.gov.uk/news/penarth-post-covid-your-views-on-our-town-centre/.
If you would like to make your views known but cannot access the survey online, you can call Penarth Town Council on (029) 2070 0721.
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