EASTLEIGH business owners are pleading with civic chiefs to reverse the decision to temporarily close the town centre's roads as they are "barely clinging on".

As previously reported, Eastleigh Borough Council took the decision on June 15 to close High Street and Market Street to all drivers on a temporary basis, in a bid to keep customers safe and ensure social distancing is maintained.

However, many small business in the town centre are urging this decision to be reversed, as the lack of close parking is turning the high street into a "ghost town" meaning local businesses are struggling to get people through the door and stay afloat.

The "Eastleigh Town Council Action Group" has been set up amongst business owners and residents, and more than 1,000 people have signed a written petition urging the council to reconsider the decision.

Joe Smith, owner of Choices sandwich shop on Eastleigh High Street, and Vice Chairperson of the group, believes if nothing changes, it could be "very bad" for local business.

She said: "I knew sales would be down when we reopened, but the lack of cars is making the streets a ghost town. With shops like mine, a lot of business comes from people quickly parking outside and running in for their lunch but this has been stopped completely. It's not just customers, businesses are struggling to get deliveries in and trade vans have no where to park because they cannot fit in the multi-story car parks.

"We need this decision reversed, the pavements are four meters wide, there is enough room for social distancing. If nothing changes it would be very bad for local business, people are barely clinging on. It feels like we were up against coronavirus and now we're up against the council.

Despite this, civic chiefs in Eastleigh say the decision was in the interest of keeping people safe.

A spokesperson said: "The Council supported the safe reopening of Eastleigh town centre to enable non-essential shops to re-open from Monday 15 June. Maintaining the safety of shoppers in the town centre is paramount and a key aspect of this is to ensure that social distancing is maintained. High Street and Market Street in Eastleigh town centre have been temporarily closed to vehicles to allow safer social distancing for shoppers and new parking areas for disabled people have also been provided.”