Businesses 'can't wait' for popular Southsea road to be pedestrianised

Portsmouth City Council is set to close part of Palmerston Road South to cars from August 15, in a bid to give bars and restaurants more space to host customers amid the pandemic.

Bollards will be used to section off the road from the Southsea Village up to Osborne Road, and a specific loading bay will be marked out opposite Wild Thyme Wholefoods.

Councillor Steve Pitt, the council's deputy leader, said: 'We will be temporarily closing Palmerston Road (South) from August, 15 under Covid-19 legislation to support a more continental style atmosphere on the street, based around on-street seated dining, and to create more space for social distancing.

'This will also help to support the economic recovery of local businesses.

'The idea came from a group of traders in the street and we then wrote to residents and businesses asking for their feedback to help shape the scheme. We will be notifying residents and businesses of our decision and the details on Monday.'

The move has been welcomed by many business owners along the road.

Dave Walker, the general manager of Drift bar which was recently refurbished, said: 'I can't wait. If it works well we would like to see the road closure become permanent, especially because in the evenings sometimes if people are a bit tipsy they walk out into the road and they might not see cars coming.'

Matt Bond, deputy general manager of Monarch which opened during the pandemic, agreed. 'The north part of Palmerston Road works really well pedestrianised and I think this part will as well, especially for the night life,' he said.

'It will give our customers more space to eat outside, which I think is really exciting.'

SEE ALSO: City businesses welcome plans to increase outside space

Croxtons manager, Paul Clilverd, added: 'We have lost tables inside because of the pandemic so this will make up for that. I think this was something that needed to be done anyway, before Covid.'

However, some concerns were raised by businesses in the south of the road.

Tommy Peters, the owner of Sopranos, said: 'In theory it is a good idea and we are happy the council is going to help us. But in the long term I don't know if it is going to work.

'We're not sure if the loading bay will be big enough to serve the street and also the part of the road before the ramp will have to be used as a turning point for cars and I don't know if that's big enough.'

The scheme will be monitored on a monthly basis and will be funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Palmerston Road South was previously pedestrianised in 2012.

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