THE debate over the pedestrianisation of Petersfield High Street looks set to divide the town centre business community in the coming months. This week's launch of the Petersfield Town Partnership showed there were strong feelings on both sides of the argument. Former town mayor Katie Pitt said a previous survey on pedestrianisation revealed that 95 per cent of traders were against it because they felt smaller businesses would suffer. But on Monday night one businessman told town partnership leaders that 75 per cent of those who replied to their own recent survey wanted pedestrianisation trialled in the High Street. He urged them not to be swayed by the small minority who were against it. The controversial issue will be taken on board by the transport committee – one of six new committees set up to take the Petersfield Tomorrow project forward. Leading committee member Tony Shaw told the meeting that the transport committee wanted to broaden its role to include a debate on pedestrianisation trials, as well as a discussion on car parking in Petersfield. Sean Collins, from Geranium Florists in the High Street, told the meeting he believed pedestrianisation posed a risk to businesses in the town centre. He said it should be discussed by both the business committee and the transport committee so that all views were considered. "This is an issue which has a high impact on the business and retail sector in the town and my belief is that pedestrianisation is not the right answer for businesses in Petersfield. I would not like all the discussions to be in the transport group only." But Philip Haines, managing director of Eventbookings Limited, told the meeting he believed pedestrianisation could pose an opportunity, not a threat. He told The Herald: "My business is in the High Street and I am often in on a Sunday when there are cars littered all over the place. "I think it would be wonderful to try out pedestrianisation on a Sunday. I am not saying it should be every day of the week." He stressed that three-quarters of those who had replied to the Petersfield Tomorrow survey had been in favour of carrying out trials, adding: "I don't see why a small minority who are against the idea should put a stop to the idea. "I think Sunday is an ideal day to experiment because it appears that most of the people who object are not open on a Sunday. deliveries would not be an issue. "Parking certainly is an issue on a Sunday, especially when there is a market in the Square, so it would be a good day to carry out an experiment and perhaps this could be followed by trials on a Saturday. Prominent town trader Jill Towner, co-owner of the High Street goldsmith business Trevor Towner, told The Herald she believed pedestrianisation would be a mistake. "We don't want it because it would cause a lot of problems for the buses. We are trying to encourage public transport and make it more successful in Petersfield, so we don't want to create problems which would affect this." She said if the idea was to build on the success of the farmers' market, it should be held in Lavant Street. "It would be easy to close the street to through traffic and it would be of great benefit ot the Lavant Street traders," said Mrs Towner. Mr Collins told The Herald it was not clear why pedestrianisation was being discussed. "It is perceived as a solution to a problem, but we are not clear what the problem is. If it is to do with the farmers' market, that does not involve the High Street." Mr Collins said he believed it would make more sense to employ a traffic warden on a Sunday to deal with illegal parking. He added: "To suggest pedestrianisation trials on a Sunday, which is not a typical trading day, and then if that is successful try another day is not logical." Monday night's launch aimed to celebrate the achievements of the Petersfield Tomorrow working group which was set up under a government market town healthcheck initiative. The group produced what it called a "vision for the future of the town". But members said they needed to formalise the project to realise some of the visions. Petersfield Town Partnership chairman Tony Struthers said he hoped that under its more formal structure it would be able to attract funding and identify projects to carry out. He said Hampshire County Council, East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) and Petersfield Town Council already supported the group. This support would be enhanced by an EHDC officer working in a project-anagement role two days a week. Six new committees are now taking the work of Petersfield Tomorrow to the next stage under the headings of "Natural Environment, Local Produce, Retail and Business, Jobs and Training, Town Character and Local Transport". A new executive group is also being formed.
