PENARTH Town Council has today revealed the results of a survey which consulted residents and interested parties on the way the town will change post-lockdown.

As reported in the Penarth Times on Thursday, the town council said the results show “widespread backing for changes”.

The survey, which attracted 840 responses, showed 70 per cent of people thought there should be more outdoor space for pedestrians and businesses.

Seventy-five per cent thought parking arrangements needed to change, and 79 per cent said the town needs to “prepare for the future”.

Some traders, who oppose the changes – specifically a one-way traffic system around the town and making Windsor Road and Lower Glebe Street a traffic free zone, have said the questions in the survey were too generalised and misleading.

As a result of the survey, Penarth Town Council have proposed the following changes to the original ideas:

  • Windsor Road from Arcot Street to the roundabout as a “shared space” for delivery vehicles and buses, with a 10mph speed limit.
  • Lower Glebe Street as a “shared space” for delivery vehicles and disabled bays. Other vehicles should not use Lower Glebe Street as a through road.
  • Bus stops will remain as they are. There were concerns over the impact of a bus stop on Hickman Road for traders, due to air pollution, noise pollution and congestion.
  • A two-way system to remain on Stanwell Road from the library to the traffic lights, to allow easy access to the bus stop on Rectory Road and to prevent congestion and “rat running” through Hickman Road and Arcot Street. A two-way system to also remain from Windsor Road to Railway Terrace.
  • The number of parking bays has also changed. There will now be 37 extra bays proposed, with 27 of them on Plassey Street.

The leader of the town council, Cllr Rhiannon Birch, explained the findings and what happens next.

“Even before Covid-19, town centres across the country were facing issues, including the need to modernise infrastructure, and the impact of online shopping,” she said. “The current pandemic has added to the scale of the challenge.

“The consultation shows that a clear majority recognise the need for a degree of change in the town centre, both for it to survive in the present and to thrive in future.

“The results call for the establishment of a greater degree of safe space and proposals which increase a degree of pedestrianisation whilst also increasing parking spaces.

“The results show substantial agreement on these aims. Reflecting this widespread and clear response, Penarth Town Council calls on our partners in the Vale of Glamorgan Council to embrace the results and recommendations.

“Specifically, Penarth Town Council believes that creating a safer environment through the closure of  Windsor Road to traffic for part of the day, between Arcot Street and the roundabout, including the Lower Glebe Street, would be  the best way to ensure that people can feel confident about shopping safely. It would allow safe use of the space in front of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants.

“It also lessens the need for one-way systems on pavements for pedestrians, which are perplexing for many and hard to implement. These proposals can be achieved in a way which also increases the amount of parking spaces available.”

The results will now be put to the Vale's Planning Committee for consultation.

For more information, visit https://www.penarthtowncouncil.gov.uk/news/survey-results/.