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Survey shows 70-30 split in favour of making High Street traffic-free

Thursday, 28th June 2012.

A 70-30 split in favour of pedestrianisation ought to be enough to make Suffolk County Council think again about its plans for Haverhill High Street, town councillors have decided.

Members have been in the street on Fridays and Saturdays asking for people's views, after the recent consultation only received 108 responses, of which only 30 per cent were in favour.

This led to the county council giving up on plans for pedestrianisation, especially in the light of almost universal objection from businesses in the street, and from the disabled blue badge holders.

Haverhill Town Council felt this did not represent the true feelings of Haverhill residents and did some canvassing of their own.

They have received 750 responses so far of which about 70 per cent were in favour, town clerk Will Austin told members at Tuesday night's meeting.

Cllr Roger Andre thought this was quite enough to show that a majority of people wanted the street closed.

"We should now go back to the county council and say this is what people want and get them to sort out details of access and hours," he said. "They should shut it with gates and address the needs of the businesses."

Cllr Maureen Byrne said she thought the consultation should continue.

"We must also find a way of compromising with local businesses," she said. "We have to meet them and find out their real views. We cannot be held to ransom by three or four businesses in the town."

Mr Austin said he had told both borough and county officers of the results of the survey and their initial reaction had been 'lukewarm'. However, they had now agreed to include the figures in their report to the next Haverhill Area Working Party (HAWP) meeting.

Members agreed they should submit their view to HAWP and tell them to start talking about a scheme.

Haverhill Online News

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