The council has removed bollards from an Ardrossan street after complaints it was harming local business.

The Cheery Cup on Glasgow Street petitioned North Ayrshire Council citing the ‘massive impact’ the temporary widening of the pavement was having on custom.

Bollards and ramps had been placed in the car parking bays in front of the shops by NAC in an attempt to make it ‘safe and easier’ for people to walk as lockdown is eased.

The deployment was part of the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People fund from which the council won £100k.

A spokesperson from The Cheery Cup said: “The last six months has been the hardest time for all of these businesses and just as things were getting to a point that running a local business became almost sustainable the changes to parking have cut business by more than 50 per cent which will inevitably force businesses to close.”

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

Councillor Tony Gurney made representations to NAC.

He said: “Whilst the overriding concern in a pandemic is public health it is clear that the changes made to Glasgow Street were badly thought out by the administration and clearly detrimental to many people.

“Once I became aware of the extent of the restrictions I asked for them to be removed and I am delighted that they have been.”

Footways on Princess Street in Ardrossan and New Street in Dalry have also had cones put in place to create more space for people to physically distance while walking and queueing outside shops.

Once the bollards were removed on Friday, cars could be seen filling the spaces.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

The Cheery Cup shared the news, posting on social media: “All we ask now is that all locals, if you can, come and do some shopping at your local shops and help them get back the lost earnings that pays the staff.

“Have a lovely brekkie at the Cheery, go for a haircut, get your butchers meat, your Saturday carry out and a curry or chippy for dinner, whatever it is try and help out these wonderful businesses.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Earlier this year the council successfully secured £400,000 through the £30 million Spaces for People fund which is administered by Sustrans on behalf of the Scottish Government.

“The funding has seen temporary infrastructure projects carried out to help people practice safe physical distancing and use active travel methods such as walking, cycling and wheeling for essential travel and exercise during COVID-19.

“We widened the footway on Glasgow Street to help people physically distance while walking and queueing.”