A “BONKERS” council has been forced to tear down a line of 3ft planters after fuming locals complained they made it “impossible” to park.
The planters were introduced to encourage social distancing during the pandemic in Kirkgate in Otley, Yorkshire but years later were still there.
NB PRESS LTDFormer mayor Nigel Francis standing by the controversial planters[/caption]
NB PRESS LTDTrader Matthew Hampshire was one of several business owners who complained[/caption]
NB PRESS LTDThe planters made parking on the street ‘impossible’[/caption]
Now a week before Christmas the parking space blocking planters have been removed by Leeds Highways after the temporary order to install them ran out, but businesses believe taking were down as much as 25% due to their placement.
Steve Nelson, who runs the world famous 20p Shop on Kirkgate, said: “We will be seeking compensation for loss of earnings. They have cost us thousands of pounds.
“The planters have been a damned nuisance and stopped people coming into the shops. During Covid we had the barriers, but when the pandemic was over they needed to go.
“To us it seemed like the council has done everything to stop people spending money in shops and everything is closing down – they should have been removed much sooner. It’s been hellish.
“People who were disabled or old couldn’t park by the shops because of the planters. When people were donating stuff to my shop, or the charity shops along here, they have to park across the street and run back and forth with the donations. It’s okay if you’re like 20 years old not 75, it’s a nightmare.
“Otley used to be a vibrant market town with stalls all around – it’s dying and that is a very large part due to the council’s inability to assist the traders here.”
Outside The 20p Shop assistant Sue McKie, 56, said: ‘They simply made no sense, thank heavens they have finally gone. The pandemic ended two years ago, but we had those things now as a legacy when businesses were struggling to survive.’
Café owner Abdul Celal Arik, 52, was another delighted at their removal, as his white BMW had been bumped into four times in the last year – as a result of the planters unnecessarily narrowing the road.
Abdul, who runs The Mardini Café across the road, said: “My car insurance has gone up – I’ve been hit in the rear of the car twice on the back wheel arch and on the driver’s side front and that was all down to the planters making the road extra narrow.
“It’s ridiculous when they should be encouraging customers to the businesses here – at last they have gone and it already looks better.”
PLANTERS REMOVED
At Yorkshire Trading Company staff welcomed the late arrival of commonsense with the removal of the planters.
One said: “Only days before the cluster manager for Yorkshire Trading was here and told us Covid has finished – those planters need to go. Nobody wanted them – they got in the way. At long last the councillors have listened.”
Otley BID, which represents shops and businesses in the town, said their removal was “a relief” for the community.
In a statement, Otley BID stated: “The planters remaining in place after Covid restrictions were lifted made very little sense for shoppers or businesses.
“Despite our repeated efforts to engage with Otley Town Council and have the planters removed, we were knocked back at every occasion.
“It’s a relief the planters have now been removed and we continue to lobby for the parking to be re-instated as it was pre-Covid.
“This is supported by our business community following our survey in November 2023, which came after a Trade and Tourism Committee Meeting with Otley Town Council where we discussed whether there was any room for compromise in relation to the planters and the parking restrictions.”
According to Otley BID’s survey of local businesses, 5.8% of business owners wanted to keep the planters as they were on the east side of Kirkgate. A majority of 73.91% of business owners wanted to remove the planters and reinstate parking.
Otley BID added: “Following the overwhelming response from our business community, we want to be clear that we DO NOT support the new double yellow lines that were partly installed recently and completed once the planters were removed on Sunday – all without prior and proper consultation.
“We also kindly ask Otley Town Council and Leeds City Council that when making decisions that directly impact upon people’s livelihoods in the future, fair and transparent consultation is undertaken.
“Above all, act with compassion and respect for the local people that make our town such a special place to live, work and visit.”
Otley Town Council released a statement on the planters which said: “Following discussions with Leeds City Council, Otley Town Council has agreed with Leeds Highways that the planters on Kirkgate will be removed over the coming days. The temporary regulations which allowed the planters to be positioned on Kirkgate are at an end.
“We are aware that the planters have divided opinion amongst residents and businesses, and we hope this decision fosters a more positive local spirit, to the benefit of the town centre.
“The Town Council will continue to work with the wider community to promote residents’ aspirations, expressed in response to the Street Vision 2030 consultation, for safer, more pleasant streets and better provision for walkers and wheelers. The Town Council remains committed to improvements, not only on Kirkgate, but across Otley.”
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