A town hall leader says a proposal to permanently pedestrianise a street in a town now 'no longer seems viable' following backlash from residents and businesses.
The Ramsbottom Town Plan, which was submitted last year, included a proposal to convert Square Street in Ramsbottom into a pedestrian-only use zone.
Square Street was closed off to vehicles during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 after businesses reached out to Bury Council about the potential of introducing a European-style outdoor area to help ensure bars and restaurants could continue to operate whilst following social distancing measures.
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The outdoor space became a popular area in Ramsbottom and some businesses saw the move as positive, saying it enabled bars, restaurants and shops to flourish. However, the idea of a permanent pedestrianisation of the street proved to be unpopular with many residents and businesses.
Some are reported to have threatened legal action and a councillor told a meeting the pedestrianisation plans led to people being put in 'a for and against camp', reports Lancs Live.
The main concerns expressed were about accessibility for emergency services and waste vehicles down the narrow street. The proposal did not receive unanimous consent, which was required.
As a result, the idea will not formally go beyond the next stage in the application. Rather, other ways will be explored as to how the space can be used to support business and make the area a vibrant scene for socialising.
At a full council meeting, leader of Bury Council councillor Eamonn O’Brien, speaking about the pedestrianisation of Square Street, said: "There is a challenge with Square Street to make that work. I was of the belief and I know that was shared by members and other supporters of the plan, that we could find a way to implement a permanent pedestrianisation, but it ultimately would have required unanimous consent and support of businesses and residents.
"Sadly, that was not possible and in fact, there were some businesses threatening legal action against it, which we would unlikely to have been able to have won, as well as some residents expressing concerns. So the permanent proposals no longer seem viable.
"However, I think some alternative plans can be looked at to support the businesses of Square Street, perhaps not in a permanent pedestrianisation way, but looking at temporary spaces, temporary licences, events and what not to try and make use of that space, which has been well used during the recovery of the Covid lockdowns.”
Ramsbottom councillors Gareth Staples-Jones and Tom Pilkington, and coun O'Brien, spoke with residents and business owners of Square Street and Prince Street about the Ramsbottom Town Plan this month.
Coun Pilkington said: “The permanent pedestrianisation idea was the most polarising aspect of the plan. It firmly put people in a for and against camp. It received the highest amount of objections, with the fewest ‘undecideds’. That’s ok and is part of any democratic consultation process.
"Everyone is rightly entitled to their say and it is then up to us to take that feedback on board.
"Any obstacle presents an opportunity and it means we will have to go back to the drawing board.
"Creative and imaginative ideas are already coming forward. We are still working to make sure that the events programme will work hand in hand with the town plan and I am pressing on with the Ramsbottom events group I formulated."
