Business owners say social distancing measures are 'wrecking Penarth'

On Tuesday “screw in” bollards replaced temporary cones and steel barriers along Glebe Street, Windsor Road and elsewhere in the town to stop cars from parking in bays, allowing for pedestrians to socially distance.

A petition which was started on Thursday calling on the Vale council to reconsider the parking measures has attracted more than 750 signatures online.

Butcher Marcus Lush of David Lush Butchers on Glebe Street, explained his frustration when he said a representative of Vale council arrived on Wednesday morning to “glue down the bollards”.

Marcus Lush said Glebe Street on Saturday was very quiet. He says he would usually have queues around the corner.

“They put bollards in my loading bay on Tuesday morning,” he said, “I was annoyed but I was informed they could be removed, as they were screwed in.

“Knowing this, I did screw them out to allow for my morning deliveries, of which I have many and the drivers need to park close to the shop to carry the produce on their shoulders.

“I was shocked on Wednesday morning when someone from the council turned up to stick the bollards to the floor so I could no longer remove them.

“It means my delivery drivers are having to carry huge amounts of produce on their back for well over an hour, when it would usually take about 30 minutes.

“It’s unsustainable and inhumane. It also means our business isn’t efficient.”

The Vale council says the measures were implemented based on government guidance and discussion with representatives of traders’ groups in Penarth, as well as the town council.

Shoppers have said they have been going elsewhere due to the restrictions, and it is deterring them for shopping locally, while others have said it could be a good thing for the town.

Cllr Lis Burnett, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration, said: “The safety of shoppers visiting town centres in the Vale is our number one priority and so measures designed to promote social distancing and protect people have been introduced in these locations.

“This has involved removing some parking bays in order to create more safe space for pedestrians at pinch points in the towns.

“The new more stream-lined fixed bollards are less overpowering in the street scene and after the most recent review the number of parking bays affected has been reduced to specific pinch-points.

“We continue to meet with town councils and business representatives and will regularly review the measures to ensure they reflect the changing situation in our shopping centres. In this way we hope to support local businesses while encouraging shoppers to return with confidence to town centres.”

Mr Lush says to add salt to the wound, since parking restrictions have been put in place, he has seen a noticeable decrease in sales, and this Saturday was one of the quietest he has seen.

“We’ve tried our best through lockdown to remain open and serve the town as well as we can, and I find it very sad that this is how we’ve been repaid by the council,” he added.

Glebe Street two weeks ago (right), compared to now

Emily Hillier, a resident who regularly drives into the town centre to shop, said she was “stunned” by the bollards when she arrived to do some shopping on Wednesday.

“I wasn’t the only one either,” she said. “So many people were saying the same thing – stood around just bemused by these plans.

“I try to use local shops as much as I can, but I’ve never felt so discouraged to support local shops as a consumer.

“It’s so sad that we are being discouraged at a time when these local shops need all the help they can get.”

Ms Hillier said she believes the council should be using the money to fund parking in the town instead, and should allow Penarth’s residents to “use their common sense” to socially distance.

She added that her friends have driven to the town centre this week, and have gone to the supermarket instead because they couldn’t find a parking space.

The restrictions have garnered some support in the town too, however, and earlier this week members of Penarth Civic Society and Gwyrddio Penarth Greening (GPG) said they backed a partial pedestrianisation of some of the major pinch points in the town, to allow eateries to operate outdoors.

The topic was on the agenda at a town council meeting two weeks ago, and a survey has been rolled out on the council website asking for residents’ views.

Gideon Calder of GPG said: “Our town centre needs our support, and what's vital is that people feel safe to visit, spend more time in our town centre, and make the most of our local shops and cafés.”

Anne Evans of Penarth Civic Society added: “These proposals would provide safe pedestrian zones to help increase footfall in the town centre, ensure that there is vital outdoor space for cafés and restaurants, and increase the amount of town centre parking.”