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A temporary road closure, lasting more than a year and described as ‘a nail in the coffin’ for small businesses, will be lifted.
The High Streets of Sittingbourne and Sheerness will be opened on Monday following the government’s latest announcement on the easing of restrictions.
Swale council put the closures in place last summer to help encourage visitors back to the town centres after the first lockdown by creating space to safely social distance.
However, with restrictions coming to an end on Monday, traffic is once again welcome.
The area's MP, Gordon Henderson (Con), previously said the closure of the town’s High Street was “stupid” and that any suggestion of it being made permanent “will be the final nail in the coffin of our high streets”. But, now, the news restrictions are going has come as a relief.
Robert Farmer, of News Plus newsagents in Sittingbourne High Street, said: “If there are cars travelling through the town, it can only benefit us with people driving past, so it’s great news.”
The 57-year-old said when he took over this business, the previous owners were getting £2,000 a day, but that is now not the case.
“We are averaging about £1,500 a day," he said. “Hopefully, with the passing of cars, it will only get better.”
Chris Staff, owner of Empire Menswear, said it was “good news for everyone”.
He added: “I know that, in Sheerness High Street, it was having a detrimental affect on the town, and what’s the point in walking down a High Street if shops are no longer there?
“It’s very good news as well for people who drive into the town.
“I can see what the council was trying to do and, certainly, it was the right thing to do in the pandemic but, for me personally, it’s not the right thing for the retailers and for people who need to access parking spots close to shops and the bus route.”
Mr Staff said delivery drivers also regularly struggled to find where to park when visiting his shop in the High Street.
Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for economy and property at Swale council, said: “The government has taken the view that despite rising cases the restrictions can be eased, but we are urging people to remain cautious and behave sensibly.
“The vaccination programme is helping to reduce the impact of the pandemic, but we aren’t out of the woods yet. We all need to do what we can to keep each other safe, and to try to avoid restrictions being reimposed later in the year.
“If restrictions are reintroduced in future, we will consider using the temporary road closures again as an option to help people use the town centres safely.”
At the end of May, Swale council announced it was running a three-week public consultation on the controversial pedestrianisation of the town centre.
The council has confirmed it was lifted because the guidance had changed, although the consultation – which finished a few weeks ago – will be discussed at the next Joint Transportation Board on September 6.
