THE PEDESTRIANISATION of Fore Street in Salcombe has been suggested as a potential idea, with opinions divided on whether or not it would have a positive effect on business and the experience of the town.

Salcombe Town Council submitted the idea as a potential traffic regulation order to Devon County Council in January - although this is speculative, and the council have highlighted that it couldn’t take place without a full public consultation.

The original idea came from the neighbourhood plan questionnaire submitted to residents of the town - with many people mentioning the pedestrianisation of Fore Street as something they’d like to see - although it was a small minority of the town that actually responded to the survey.

The idea has been mentioned in the Kingsbridge and Salcombe Chamber of Commerce meeting last month, and it was suggested that the question ‘are you in favour of a pedestrianised Fore Street?’ should be discussed at a later date.

When asked if it would be good for Salcombe, town mayor Cllr Mike Fice said: ‘Yes and no, it’s got to be good during the peak summer season to have no cars going up and down Fore Street. It was quite noticeable when the road was closed in January and February, how much nicer it was for people walking around.

‘Against that, you’ve got all the difficulties of the businesses with the deliveries, and with the residential areas that have got a significant amount of parking on Fore Street.

‘Logistically it could be quite difficult, but it’s one of those things it would be nice to have, but you can see the reasons why people would be against the effect it would have.

‘It was interesting at the chamber of commerce meeting, because one report back was that it had harmed people’s business, and others said that it was better.

‘Delivery drivers I saw didn’t seem to have a problem - they were parking down at Clifton Place and wheeling their stuff along on sack-trucks. There aren’t great logistical difficulties in having it pedestrianised, although there would have to be vehicle access through it.

‘At the moment it’s just a bit of an idea, it’s a long way from any fruition - and it would certainly have to go out to public consultation.

‘All we’ve done is put forward the idea as a traffic order to Devon County Council. Personally I think they’ll come back and say its not a viable thing to do.’

One local business owner, who didn’t wish to be named, told the Gazette this week: ‘Personally I don’t think it would be good because of passing trade. Most people drive into Salcombe, and if you take away the car park, there’s no off-street parking, so people would have to park in the long stay car parks - so for the elderly people that wouldn’t be good.

‘When the road was closed from January to the end of February, it didn’t make an awful lot of difference. But problems occurred because there was no parking.

‘I don’t think pedestrianising would be of any benefit at all from a business point of view.’

However, a spokesperson for the Bakehouse said: ‘I think it’s a great thing, there would be a few logistical issues, but it needs to be pedestrianised.’

Liz Hore, landlady of the Victoria Inn said: ‘In the six weeks of summer and at Christmas, I can see benefits to pedestrianising Fore Street and using Whitestrand for market purposes.

‘Aside from that I can see no benefits to our business at all and would not support any such moves.’

Chamber of commerce vice-chair for Salcombe, James Spencer said: ‘The chamber is aware of residents and businesses toying with the idea of pedestrianisation of Salcombe Fore Street for many years. What we can all be sure of is the need for improvement on the current arrangement, which fails businesses as it does residents and visitors, at one time or another.

‘The chamber is happy to help with any consultation.’