A ROAD in Shaftesbury town centre will reopen next month as councillors explore the possibility of the road being permanently pedestrianised.

High Street has been closed to traffic since June 2020 to allow the High Street to re-open safely as part of the Covid-19 recovery as its narrow pavements 'made it impossible' to deliver the government guidelines around two-metre social distancing.

The temporary road closure has received both positive and negative feedback, while business surveys were also undertaken during 2020 and again in May 2021 with 83 per cent of shop owners/representatives believe the temporary pedestrianisation has had a positive effect on their business.

High Street will reopen to traffic on Monday, July 19 as per the Government's roadmap to ease coronavirus restrictions.

Due to the growth and popularity of Shaftesbury Town Council’s Thursday Street Market, a spokesman for the town council said the authority has submitted an application Dorset Council to temporarily close the High Street on Thursdays up until 2pm to enable the street market to continue to 'flourish over the summer period.'

Following meetings with various figures, Shaftesbury Town Council wants to see if High Street could be permanently pedestrianised.

A spokesman for Shaftesbury Town Council said: "A request has been submitted to Dorset Council, fully supported by Shaftesbury Town Council, to look at the feasibility of a more permanent pedestrianisation priority scheme.

"This scheme, if approved, would need to be managed via an entirely separate project as a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) has clear legislative conditions that need to be considered.

"TRO consultations, combined with statutory processes can mean a typical TRO can take between 12 and 18 months to deliver as there are many factors to take into consideration hence why the process can take many months.

"Shaftesbury Town Council will continue to seek the view from the public and will keep the community informed as the next steps for a more permanent scheme are developed over the coming weeks and months."

Councillor Piers Brown, the lead member for economic development said: “Temporary pedestrianisation of the High Street has been a great success, helping our amazing shops through the extremely difficult trading year.

"With 86 per cent of shoppers and 84 per cent of businesses supporting the pedestrianisation becoming permanent, I hope Dorset Council will accept our application so the High Street can continue to buck the national trend and flourish.”

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