PLANS to make the Poole High Street and Poole Quay pedestrianisation a constant summer feature are being progressed by BCP Council.

A consultation has been started on proposals to make the trial traffic order permanent from April 1 to October 31 each year with vehicle access allowed in the winter months.

The council’s cabinet member for transport, councillor Mike Greene, said the arrangement was “the best of both worlds” for businesses and the public.

Measures to block off the area around The Quay, High Street, Castle Street and Paradise Street were introduced under the council’s former Unity Alliance administration last summer.

Many business owners and visitors criticised the scheme with concerns over reduced accessibility for would-be customers.

The owners of the Fisherman Café warned they could lose as much as 40 per cent of their business.

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But a wider six-month consultation on the experimental traffic order found responses became more favourable the longer the closure remained.

More than 800 people submitted their views with 55 per cent opposing prioritising the area for pedestrians and cyclists.

However, a report said that when considering the responses from the final five months of the consultation this figure changed to just over a third with 64 per cent of people supporting it.

And more than half of businesses were supportive of the measures.

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The council has now put forward plans to make the closure permanent between 10am and 10pm from April 1 to October 31 each year.

It said parking would still be allowed in the existing bays during this period and that the roads would be fully open over the winter months.

Councillor Mike Greene, the council’s cabinet member for transport said the arrangement was “a suitable solution” and was a compromise between supporters and opponents of the closure.

“Our amended plans have the dual aim of creating an environment that helps local businesses to prosper, while also enhancing opportunities for those walking and cycling,” he said.

“During the summer they will create a vibrant outdoor space where people can continue to move around freely, safely and sustainably on foot or by bike,” he added. “When the weather becomes less favourable, potential customers have the convenience to get around by car.

“This practical proposal will provide the best of both worlds.’’

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The new consultation began on Thursday with Cllr Greene able to rubber-stamp the proposal after May 21.

But the plan has already been supported by Poole Bid, whose lead, Jacqui Rock, said it was “a suitable conclusion”.

“The enhanced measures will promote Poole Quay and our Old Town as a thriving local destination, where our residents, retailers and visitors alike can benefit from outside events and the café culture environment during the summer months,” she said.

She added that opening the road in the winter would “maximise the opportunity” for businesses in the quieter period.

The formal process of making the traffic order permanent is expected to take until November to complete.

The cost of introducing the closures has so far been about £16,000, all of which was covered by government active travel grants.