The street where people say they 'won't survive' if traffic is allowed to go down it
manchestereveningnews.co.ukBusiness owners on a street in Ramsbottom that was pedestrianised during the lockdown say they will ‘struggle to survive’ if the plans to reopen the road to traffic goes ahead.
Square Street was closed off to vehicles during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 after businesses reached out to Bury Council about the potential of introducing an European-style outdoor area to help ensure bars and restaurants could continue to operate whilst following social distancing measures.
The outdoor space became a popular area in Ramsbottom and has continued to allow bars, restaurants and shops to ‘flourish’ ever since.
But owners say they have now been informed by the council that the road will be opened up to traffic on April 17. Bury council has confirmed that Covid legislation that allowed for the closure 'runs out' on that date, but says it is doing everything it can to support local business, with the local authority's leader promising to take the issue up with the Secretary of State. READ MORE: 'If we're going out, we're doing it our way' - line-up for Oldham Coliseum's final show includes Maxine Peake and Christopher Eccleston Fiona Botham, who runs tapas restaurant Levanter, was one of the first residents to enquire with the council at the start of the lockdown about closing the street off.
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