Southsea protestors demand seafront is 'opened now' after 'nonsensical' decision to close roads

Parts of Eastney Esplanade and Clarence Esplanade were shut indefinitely on May 1 to allow pedestrians to socially distance.

But seafront residents have voiced their anger about the closures saying nearby streets have been turned into a ‘parking frenzy and pollution hellhole’.

Accidents involving a cyclist and a child have served to strengthen calls to reopen the seafront roads.

Eastney Esplanade will reopen to motor vehicles on the evening of Sunday, September 13 and the western seafront road closure will be reopened on September 30.

But a meeting held by the Open the Seafront committee on Saturday saw 100 residents, visitors and businesses insist Portsmouth City Council open the seafront before then.

David Oliver, chair of the committee, said: ‘The council leader (Gerald Vernon-Jackson) has made it clear they won’t change their nonsensical decision so the fight goes on.’

Mr Oliver also accused the council of shutting roads ‘on a whim’ and insisted this should not be allowed at any time in the future.

Following the safety briefing, protestors then marched on the pavement on Eastern Parade waving banners and chanting ‘open the seafront now’ - with campaigners reporting passing support from cyclists and motorists.

Mark Trapani, spokesman for the group, said campaigners had been collecting data on usage of the closed section of the seafront and comparing it to additional traffic that has been forced to use residential roads for access and parking.

‘The data collected so far shows there is minimal use of the seafront roads for Covid-19 purposes but it clearly shows that these closures are having a negative impact on social distancing, safety, pollution for residents, visitors and local traders,’ Mr Trapani said.

‘There is no justification to keeping the roads closed and the loss of 250 parking spaces is also costing tens of thousands of pounds in lost revenue to the city at a time when the city is giving extra financial support as a result of the pandemic.

‘Perhaps Mr Vernon-Jackson can tell us why we have to wait until September 13 and 30 for the seafront roads to reopen? What’s so special about these dates?

‘The closures have caused nothing but misery for thousands of people with the worst yet to come.

‘Residents face even greater numbers of vehicles during the forthcoming Bank Holiday and start of the next school term.

‘The committee is also very keen to make sure that seafront closures never happen again, other than in stormy weather. The fight continues.’

Cllr Vernon-Jackson previously said: ‘As promised, we have reviewed the temporary changes to roads in response to the pandemic and the data shows that 54 percent of people are in favour of the change along with an increase in usage, this clearly show the changes should remain until September.’

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