Plans to extend a high street traffic ban have split opinion among traders – with some fearing it could “kill” their town's small shops.

The north section of Deal high street, from Stanhope Road and Union Road, is currently pedestrianised from 10am until 2pm on Saturdays only.

But Deal Town Council (DTC) has met with bosses at Kent County Council (KCC) to see if the same four-hour restriction can be brought in on every day of the week.

The south portion of the high street, from South Street to Park Street, is already closed off to traffic, but some shop bosses feel extending the ban will not help trade.

Teresa Raistrick, of Teresa Hair Fashions in the high street, says she “won't be in business” if the road outside her shop is closed seven days a week.

"It will kill my business, I will just have to close,” she said.

"They brought the Saturday closure in during Covid and they just carried it on without consulting anyone.

"I put up with the Saturday closure for a year with our normal hours of 8.30am to 4.30pm, but our takings went down by half on a Saturday so we now have to close at 2pm.

"We used to have walk-ins and we were always busy, but we don't get that now on Saturdays.

"We are all independent shops down here and if we all closed, Deal wouldn't be the same.”

If the changes are introduced, a small section of the high street between Stanhope Road and Park Street will remain unaffected.

DTC says the idea comes from the ‘Deal Town Plan’ – a report launched to help steer the council in its actions and strategy.

Meetings and surveys were carried out and a questionnaire went to each household in the Deal wards for their feedback.

Bosses say the proposed permanent pedestrianisation was ranked second in a ‘prioritisation exercise’.

But Katherine Miretti, owner of the Miretti cafein the high street, thinks while the rule is good on a Saturday, it is not something she would support all week.

“It really works on a Saturday because that's when Deal is most populated,” she explained.

“It creates a nice atmosphere because you have lots of people walking around and they can go to the Saturday market and wander around.

“But it is not like that for the rest of the week.

“During the weekdays, if it was pedestrianised it would make it very difficult for a lot of residents because we are in a residential area.

“This past week we have had waterworks and people haven't been able to drive into the high street and that has meant a lot of our clientele haven't been able to come to the shop.

“If they pedestrianise the area, it would be a similar situation and it would be more of a hindrance than a positive.”

Lianti Peacock, who has owned Peppers Health Food for 20 years, says the ban would cause huge issues for her deliveries and elderly customers.

“It is going to kill business in town, all the little shops will end up shutting,” she explained.

“I have deliveries almost every day, even if they are small, so it will make them impossible.

“Having it closed on a Saturday makes it special, if you do it all week it won't be the same, and the elderly people will struggle.

“Sometimes they park outside so they can jump in and pick something up.

“It is not even busy during the week so why would you shut it? I don’t think it will make it safer and it won't be good for any businesses.”

Despite the backlash, some traders say they are keen to see the changes introduced and feel it will be hugely beneficial for the town.

Amanda Goring, manager of the Gridlock shoe shop, thinks the move will attract more people to the area.

“I think it is a fantastic idea and it would encourage more people into the town,” she said.

“When it is closed, it makes the town look more appealing and it is safer.

“It is quieter in the week, but Thursday to Sunday is when it starts to get busy and I still think it is a great idea.

“Lots of things impact deliveries, but the drivers will just have to find somewhere else to park to deliver the goods.

“We have got by even with the road closed for the waterworks.

“There are loading bays around the corner, although perhaps there could be more.”

Lou D'Henin of Filberts Foods, which sits on the corner of Stanhope Road where the ban would start from, says he “loves” the idea.

“On Saturday when it is closed, it is always choc-a-block,” he said.

“We have quite slim pavements, so you see a lot of families walking in the road.

“Cars can come racing down so I think it would be safer for everyone.

“We are lucky in Deal that when our high street is quiet, it is still not as quiet as other towns.”

The ‘Deal Town Plan’ was approved by full council in June 2023, and DTC’s transport and infrastructure committee is now preparing to put the idea out to formal public consultation.

DTC spokeswoman, Nadine Miller, said: “As part of the recently approved ‘Deal Town Plan’, one of our priority actions is to consult on the permanent pedestrianisation of the north part of the high street.

“The town plan is a three to five-year strategy that was created in partnership with local residents and organisations.

“The deputy town clerk and committee clerk have had an initial meeting with Kent County Council officers to discuss the next steps.

“They have advised us to prepare more information to determine if we are able to put the permanent pedestrianisation of the high street, between Stanhope Road and Union Road, out to formal public consultation.”

The consultation is scheduled to be launched at the end of the year, or early next year.

In a statement, a KCC spokesman said: “We are working with DTC on its proposal to have the Saturday pedestrianisation scheme in place seven days a week between the same times as a Saturday.

“Officers have had initial discussions with local representatives, and we are waiting for more information from a public survey to inform next steps.”