In response to government advice, Eastleigh Local Area Committee (ELAC) is considering measures, including temporary road closures, to promote the safety of shoppers when more shops re-open on Monday 15 June.
These measures include a plan to close Market Street and High street within Eastleigh Town Centre to provide a safe trading environment and enable safe queuing and social distancing through the provision of additional road space to allow pedestrians to pass safely.
With more non-essential retail shops due to open and restrictions to the number of people allowed in a shop at any one time, the demand for space for customers to queue on pavements will increase and in time businesses, particularly the food service industry, may want more space to operate outside. The colonnades, various street furniture and limited crossing points also provide obstacles that concentrate movement in certain areas along both roads.
Chair of ELAC Cllr Paul Bicknell said, "The safety of shoppers is a high priority for the Council and the introduction of these social distancing measures in our town would help to create a safe trading environment for businesses and shoppers in the town. The main focus of these proposals is to ensure that everyone who uses our town centre has safe space to access the ‘high street’, can socially distance and to provide an inviting shopping experience. I am confident that these proposals to temporarily pedestrianise these roads will receive wide support from ELAC Councillors.”