BUSINESSES have said they may be forced to close if they lose their outside seating when Bedford Place is reopened.

After a consultation, Southampton City Council has announced that it will reopen Bedford Place.

Now though, businesses in the area have spoken out after they were told they would lose their outdoor seating which is currently away from the main closure, in an area which was previously used for on-street parking.

The businesses, Retro Cafe and Beards & Boards Craft Beer Bar say that they can’t understand why the opening of the road means that the planters, put down to cordon off the area, must be removed.

They argue that the planters were in place before the road closure came into affect.

Toby Jackson, the owner of Beards and Boards, said: “[The city council] has left everybody else to have their outside space. So it seems really unfair that they have taken away all our outside seating. The road could still be opened, but they’ve just taken away because they need more parking spaces. Even though there’s two multi-storey car parks.

“If they take away our outside space then that effectively closes our businesses because everyone who wants a drink or wants food in the summer will go down the road and sit outside.”

The two businesses currently share the seating area as they both operate at separate times of the day.

Elliot House, the owner of Retro Cafe, added: “We have just proudly survived the damage that the pandemic has had on our business, and with this announcement in the middle of Summer affecting us, but not affecting our competition the newly elected local council are driving a big fat nail into a coffin we thought we had finally successfully climbed out of.”

Council leader, Cllr Daniel Fitzhenry, said however: “We deeply understand the concerns of the hospitality traders in Bedford Place. We’re currently discussing to see if there is anything that we can do to help them, but the outcome of the consultation was a majority led, for reopening from all of the local businesses, and so, as it currently stands, the road will reopen.”

Cabinet Member for Growth, Cllr Moulton added that the planters were put in place outside the two businesses as part of the “emergency Covid-19 response” in August.

“While the businesses concerned are outside the pedestrianisation zone, the scheme has nevertheless helped to reduce the speeds of vehicles. With through traffic once again travelling past once the road is reopened, people sitting at tables in the parking bays will be at an increased risk of collision and therefore this is a necessary decision.

"We are committed to working with all businesses in Bedford Place to co-design safety measures and improvements to the public realm, working towards a viable and safe long-term solution that balances everyone’s needs.

"As part of this we will see if we can integrate some widened pavements which might permit tables and chairs, as well as tree planting – this will help make the area more pedestrian friendly and safer as well as possibly helping businesses. As part of this ongoing engagement, officers will be liaising directly with businesses whose pavement licenses are impacted by the planned reopening of the road.”