By Maria Zaccaro, Local Democracy Reporter
Talking about the long-term plan for the area Cllr Jeremy Moulton, deputy council leader and cabinet member for growth, has said plans to close Bedford Place in the evening are still on the table.
• Council to reopen Bedford Place to traffic
But speaking about the long-term plan for the area, Cllr Jeremy Moulton, deputy council leader and cabinet member for growth, said plans to close the road in the evening are still possible.
“That could be a nice balance between supporting the non-hospitality trade and the hospitality businesses,” he said. “We will look into that but it is not something that we could do at the moment. The only way we can do [it] practically would be through camera enforcement.”
He added: “It is not possible now but it might well be possible next year and at that point we will give [it] serious consideration. We will consider evening closures next year. We will have a dialogue with residents, businesses and users of Bedford Place and that would be something that we discuss with them.”
Commenting on the decision to reopen the road to vehicles, Lyn Brayshaw, a local co-ordinator of Friends of the Earth, said: “The evidence is overwhelming that opening up streets for people makes healthier, happier neighbourhoods. It’s a shame that all the examples from around the globe have not been seen as examples of how reclaiming streets for people have so many advantages.”
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