Your local Conservative councillors have been pushing for a new, permanent scheme to widen the pavement areas of Warwick Way and Churton Street and introduce more planting and raised loading ‘pads’ as seen in Elizabeth St, so the ugly plastic barriers will no longer be needed and the whole area improved for residents and visitors alike.

The al-fresco dining scheme was introduced on Warwick Way and Churton Street in the summer of 2020, to help with social distancing and to enable the cafes and restaurants to survive the pandemic. As the need for emergency COVID-19 measures reduced, and at the request of local councillors, the council held a public consultation to ask residents whether the scheme should be made into a permanent change to our High Street.  

There were many responses, with over 80% approving of this idea.  A new scheme is now being developed, with the displaced eastbound traffic diverted up the Belgrave Road and along Gillingham Street, the pavements properly widened and changes to the traffic lights, so the ugly plastic barriers will no longer be needed. 

Once the detailed design is complete another public consultation will be held, so a traffic management order can be issued before works commence this autumn.