AS PETERSFIELD shops look to re-open with social-distancing rules on June 15, it is feared shoppers won’t be safe unless cars are banned from town-centre streets.

There are concerns queues of shoppers could intermingle – or force other people out into the road where they could be at risk from traffic.

The answer, says Hampshire County council, is to ban cars from the town centre. And the proposal is seen as a trial that could pave the way for permanent pedestrianisation.

It is expected that ‘non-essential’ shops will be able to reopen, but with strict rules in place that will see shoppers queueing to get in.

The county council is moving swiftly to put together plans that will see the High Street, The Square and Lavant Street – if not more roads – closed to traffic from 10am to 6pm.

County council and East Hampshire District Council member Rob Mocatta said: “Hopefully the shops should reopen later this month, but it’s likely there won’t be enough room on the pavement once people start queueing to get into them.

“Some shops and banks are open now, and they all attract queues. And when the others open, there is a danger the queues could inter-mingle.

“It is planned to shut the town centre to traffic so there is enough room for people to queue and for people to walk past safely.”

Deliveries will be expected to arrive either before 10am or after 6pm, and disabled drivers may have some form of dispensation.

However, it is recognised that before lockdown disabled drivers parked anywhere on the road outside shops, and it is expected the plans will make allowance to deal with this.

And if the new proposals work, the ‘pedestrianisation’ could become permanent after social distancing becomes a thing of the past.

Cllr Mocatta added: “Reducing the number of vehicles using the town centre is an aim supported by Petersfield Town Council, East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council and a lot of residents. This pedestrian period immediately post the strict lockdown will be a good trial to see what problems there may be and how we get round them.

“This has to be implemented now because of social distancing that will be needed when the shops re-open later this month. And if it works well now, it could remain in place going forward.”