Shop owners get a chance to talk about car-ban plan (From Knutsford Guardian)

Shop owners get a chance to talk about car-ban plan

9:40am Thursday 11th March 2010

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BUSINESSES on King Street have been formally asked their opinions on pedestrianisation.

The Knutsford Town Plan Steering Group is engaging in a major consultation exercise with traders in the central section of King Street after 75 per cent of respondents to the town plan questionnaire stressed they wanted to see it pedestrianised.

Bob Quin, town plan communications officer, said: “Given such a huge response to the survey, the wishes of the great majority of Knutsford townsfolk are very clear.

“However, we want to make sure the traders in that part of King Street have the opportunity to have their say on the project.

“We need to be sure that the needs of local businesses are taken into account and that the local economy benefits to the maximum from the project.”

The three pages of the consultation town plan dealing with pedestrianisation have been hand-delivered to more than 50 businesses in the centre of King Street, together with a covering letter asking for their help in making the wishes of the townsfolk work to the best advantage of business in the town.

Although the details of any scheme will be worked out by Cheshire East Council, the working group dealing with pedestrianisation has already shown it is thinking of the needs of business.

It has proposed that, while the plan should fulfil the wishes of the town, the practical needs of businesses, for example, deliveries, must also be taken into account.

It suggests that the working day should have a significant amount of time where vehicle access and parking is permitted as now, and the rest of the working day, for example the afternoon, where the centre of King Street is pedestrianised.

It has also suggested that the scheme should be tested for between six and 12 months to see if it works in principle and to check the need for improvements in detail.

If pedestrianisation is a success in its first few years, it could then be extended either to summer evenings, if a ‘café culture’ had developed, or to other parts of the town.

Mr Quin added: “We want to extend the principle of consultation as far as possible and it’s important the views of local business are listened to.”

If a business has not received a letter, they are asked to call Bob Quin on 01565 650300 or via email at bobquin1@btinternet. com.

Talk about this story on our forums at forum.knutsford guardian.co.uk.

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