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7:00pm Friday 18th June 2010 in News By Sarah Calkin
BANNING cars from Canvey town centre would make it safer, shoppers say.
Canvey Town Council is due to consult residents on whether they would like to see Furtherwick Road pedestrianised, as part of the £100million town centre regeneration.
Castle Point Council is leading the project, but the plans it has put forward do not include a proposal to pedestrianise the area.
Many shoppers said they would support pedestrianisation, but others struck a note of caution.
Sylvia Fairey, 75, of Rembrandt Close, Canvey, said: “I would definitely be in favour of pedestrianisation.
“It’s dangerous at the moment, the way cars come down here.
“I have seen lots of accidents.
“It’s a nightmare. You’re playing Russian roulette.
“Really and truly, Furtherwick Road should be shut down.”
Margaret Buckingham, 61, of Roggel Road, agreed, saying: “Pedestrianisation would be perfect.
“There is no reason for the traffic to go through that way and many of the cars come through so fast.
“They should make the rest of the town centre system two-way again, so the traffic wouldn’t need to come down here.
“What it really needs is better shops and maybe if they pedestrianised it, it would attract bigger names.”
The borough council said it did not propose pedestrianisation, because traders opposed the idea.
The council’s regeneration shop, at the Knightswick Centre, was set up to find out residents’ views on the town centre regeneration and was busy with people making suggestions.
Taxi driver Frank Carr, 55, of Kings Park, Canvey, said: “I can’t see it working.
“If you blocked Furtherwick Road off you would have to send the traffic through residential streets.
“The town centre needs something, but I don’t think pedestrianisation is the answer.”
Robert Byrne, 55, of Greenways, Canvey, was also unsure.
He said: “I don’t know whether that’s the answer.
“It could affect traders and there are already enough empty shops in the town centre.
“They would be better spending the money on public toilets.”
Comments(5)
torridpiper
says...
7:04am Sat 19 Jun 10
Turingdot
says...
7:26am Sat 19 Jun 10
marshman
says...
8:51pm Sat 19 Jun 10
Turingdot wrote:Is it really down to the traders? I'm guessing if they had their way there'd be free parking outside all of the shops or they'd all be converted into a drive through. What matters is what the shoppers want and I'm guessing again that the consultation will come back with overwhelming support for pedestrianisation.
Typical CIIP/Echo spin.
Headline supporting the CIIP in their campaign to pedestrianise Furtherwick Road. Something the traders have said they don't want.
Turingdot
says...
7:43am Mon 21 Jun 10
marshman wrote:"What matters is what the shoppers want and I'm guessing again that the consultation will come back with overwhelming support for pedestrianisation".
Turingdot wrote:Is it really down to the traders? I'm guessing if they had their way there'd be free parking outside all of the shops or they'd all be converted into a drive through. What matters is what the shoppers want and I'm guessing again that the consultation will come back with overwhelming support for pedestrianisation.
Typical CIIP/Echo spin.
Headline supporting the CIIP in their campaign to pedestrianise Furtherwick Road. Something the traders have said they don't want.
'Taxi driver Frank Carr, 55, of Kings Park, Canvey, said: “I can’t see it working. “If you blocked Furtherwick Road off you would have to send the traffic through residential streets. “The town centre needs something, but I don’t think pedestrianisation is the answer.”'
Crikey Fred, what way do you go then? Blocking the High Street doesn't force traffic into the residential streets. Don't forget Folkesville and Eldertree used to be 2 way and the one way system is still relatively new. They can both easily cope with the traffic.
What's bugging me is all the council(s) do is talk about things and nothing ever seems to get done. Get yer collective fingers out and do something for a change.
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Trainman says...
11:30pm Fri 18 Jun 10