PEOPLE working and walking around Bedford Place have given their opinions about the street's controversial reopening to traffic.
Vehicles passed through Bedford Place, in Southampton city centre as it opened today for the first time since its closure to support businesses through Covid restrictions on indoor seating.
The Daily Echo was out speaking to people in the area today, who expressed mixed feelings at the change.
Tony Stevens said: “I’m really pleased it’s opened. I live around here and driving around the back streets meant going over lots of potholes.”
Mariana Ivanova said: “I’m not a driver so it doesn’t make a massive difference to me, but I thought it was nice when all the tables were outside. It changed the view of the area. It used to be ‘Bedford place’ - a place where you could meet people. Now it’s just a street.”
Head Barista at XOXO bar Rob Franks said the change was "a disappointment."
He added: "It’s ruined the togetherness that all the venues had. It’s dangerous too to have drunk people walking straight out onto a main road. People die like that.”
George Outerrside also said he "preferred the area before (when it was pedestrianised."
He said: "We’re losing public spaces. I feel like we’re giving over too much of the city to the car where there are already roads the can drive down.”
He said he would still come to Bedford Place on a night out with his friends but he thought it was it was "better when there was more room to move about.”
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