Traders concern at street car ban

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Some businesses fear a ban on motorists using a main shopping street in Cardiff city centre will hit trade.

Only buses, taxis, cycles and emergency vehicles will be allowed to use St Mary Street during the 18-month experiment, with restricted times for deliveries.

Traders say customers will be unable to collect heavy goods and believe nearby roads will become more congested, when the trial starts on Monday.

The council says cutting traffic and pollution will improve the environment.

Cardiff Council has advised drivers to rethink their route.

The change affects St Mary Street, running into High Street, from the Mill Lane and Castle Street junctions.

Delivery and service vehicles will only have access from 1800 until 1200 the next day.

If we can't allow people to come and pick up and they are not prepared to accept a delivery charge, where can we go from here? Horace Gamlin, music shop owner

If the trial proves successful it could become permanent in 2008 and also bring in wider pavements, public art and trees.

But two local music stores are concerned customers will be unable to collect bulkier instruments and equipment.

George Osztreicher, Cranes managing director, said: "They will drive us out of town, and out of business.

"Families often come and pick up drums or keyboards, harps or PA systems. Our customers are going to be affected."

Horace Gamlin of Gamlin's had hoped special permits for customers collecting heavy goods would be available but a letter from Cardiff Council confirmed this will not happen.

He said: "If we can't allow people to come and pick up and they are not prepared to accept a delivery charge, where can we go from here?"

Staff at Woodies Emporium clothes store are among those being given permits to get to off-street parking accessed from St Mary Street.

It is hoped congestion will be eased for public transport

"It's going to be absolute mayhem" said office manager Caroline Isaac. "Especially down by the castle. Just trying to get down Westgate Street - everybody is going to be down there."

Caroline Waudby, owner of Banana Custard furniture shop in the Royal Arcade, believes it will be positive in the long term, but should have been delayed until after the £535m St David's 2 shopping development is finished in The Hayes.

She said: "There's a lack of car parks and I just think it's going to make the centre of Cardiff very difficult for a lot of people with so much happening at once."

'Fantastic place'

Cardiff Council said staff would be available to advise drivers on alternative routes with police community support officers and traffic wardens helping enforce the ban.

Cllr Elgan Morgan, Cardiff Council's executive member for transport, said the aim was to improve the look of the street.

"It's been a bit run down over the last few years. With the St David's 2 development opening in 2009, it will strengthen this part of the city centre" he said.

He added that the council had allowed more time for deliveries.

"We have been working with individual businesses as much as we can for the past few months. That's why we're adapting our plans."

Mr Morgan said they had considered when to bring in the changes but that St Mary Street was an important part of the city centre and in need of development.

"Better to get all the issues over and done with so in 2010 Cardiff city centre will be a fantastic place to be," he said.

Peter Heath, Cardiff Bus commercial manager, said he believes it would cut the time it took buses to travel through the area.

The Cardiff Chamber of Commerce said the change was part of a package of improvements to which the redevelopment of the area around the Central bus station was key.