A Suffolk coffee shop owner has criticised a proposal to make his town's high street one-way in a bid to improve pedestrian safety, saying a better idea would be to remove parking in neighbouring roads.
James Scott, who runs Nine Deli in Pinkney's Lane, Southwold, said instead of introducing a one-way system in the High Street, all parking should be removed in narrow link roads, such as Trinity Street, so traffic could get through, easing congestion in the High Street.
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On Friday (September 22), Southwold Town Council and Suffolk County Council's Highways will be holding the first of two drop-in sessions, which will be between 2pm and 4pm at the town hall, to discuss the idea of a one way system.
The second session will take place at the same venue the following day, between 10am and noon.
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In June, the EADT reported how Mr Scott was experiencing problems with motorists using Pinkney's Lane as a 'rat run' and often going the wrong way down the one way system that exists in the lane after turning in from the High Street.
He said: "There are certain streets in Southwold where, if they removed the parking completely and made it a non-parking zone, that would create roads that are wide."
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He added if they removed the 'ridiculous' parking bays in the High Street then traffic would flow unheeded.
However, East Suffolk councillor David Beavan, who represents Southwold, said the aim was to encourage motorists to park up, rather than drive through the High Street, which endangered pedestrians in the narrow street.
He said: "It is such a narrow High Street with narrow pavements and we want to give a bit more room for pedestrians and try and encourage cars to park up and not just drive down the High Street when it is busy."
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A county council spokesperson said: "Suffolk Highways is working with the local councillor to find ways of improving the traffic flow in Southwold.
"A scheme has been suggested to make part of Southwold one way, however, a consultation is ongoing with the town council regarding this.
"Residents and businesses have been invited to a drop-in session on September 22 and 23 2023.
"All comments will be reviewed following the sessions."
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