It's a shambles (From Penarth Times)

It's a shambles

THE Glebe Street pedestrianisation controversy continues to rage on.

Traders were furious last week when they claimed council builders turned up to work in Glebe Street without giving them warning.

This week their anger showed no sign of abating - in fact our office was inundated with angry callers attacking the scheme.

Former Penarth trader Chris Samson of Grove Terrace was scathing and typical of many in his comments about the development: "It is chaotic at the moment because nobody seems to know where they are going.

I have never known it so difficult to drive here."

Keith Hazelwood, who owns Prisk Ltd on Glebe Street, says he is acutely worried about his business affairs.

He said: "Our takings in the first week of the pedestrianisation are down 40 per cent. Even the charity shop next door has seen a drop in their donations.

"The main problem is the passing trade has literally gone because people can not park up and pop in to the shops.

"Our trade is simply driving through Penarth and going to Tesco's."

Former mayor of Penarth, Alun Roberts of Beechwood Drive, was equally worried and said: "Pedestrianisation is the wrong concept because it is taking the parking spaces away. It's a shambles."

Maureen Kelly Owen, a Conservative on Penarth Town Council, said parking should come before pedestrianisation.

"At the moment the cart is being put before the horse," she said. "Penarth town council is split down the middle on this.

None of the Conservatives want it and the traders are against it.

"We should have a proper traffic study first and not this experimental scheme."

Ruby Osbourne a Penarth Town Councillor who abstained from the Glebe Street vote said: "Since the pedestrianisation some traders say there business is down 50 per cent already.

"On Holton Road in Barry there are shops that have been boarded up.

Tonypandy has a worse situation because it is a ghost town.

I am very concerned that 12-14 car parking spaces have been lost. Many of the retail outlets had a petition running to stop the scheme."

Many Penarthians are worried about the lack of disabled parking in the Glebe Street area like 81-year-old William Cooper, of Tennyson Road, who said: "My wife and I are invalids and now they have taken away some disabled parking it is not fair.

"We often go into the shops there but now we will have to park further away."

A supporter of the pedestrianisation scheme, Pauline Parker, of Byrd Crescent, said: "It will enhance Penarth because we will have our own square.

"But I just hope it does not get vandalised."

What do you think?

Are you for or against? Contact us with your views on 029 20707234.