CEREDIGION council has said it is “currently reviewing” safe zone measures in the county, as disability groups raise concerns over the closure of an Aberystwyth road.

Ceredigion Disability Forum have questioned the continued closure of Market Street in the town, a situation which takes away disabled parking bays.

The council said that safe zones – introduced during the pandemic to control people flow and encourage businesses to move outside of their premises – remain in place but have been relaxed since the height of the crisis.

The First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has hinted that non-essential retail may be allowed to reopen and that the stay at home rule may be changed to a stay local one when lockdown measures in Wales are reviewed on Friday.

The measures are currently being reviewed, but George Holloway, of the Ceredigion Disability Forum said that establishing safe zones post coronavirus lockdown has “already been adopted by the council” and warned that road closures, the loss of disabled parking bays, and increased street clutter would be concerns for disabled people in Aberystwyth.

He said that “tables and chairs outside” of businesses within the safe zones, and if further ares of Aberystwyth town centre are pedestrianised “will increase street clutter and so will be disadvantageous to people with mobility or sight difficulties.”

“We have already seen Market Street closed with the loss of disabled parking bays,” he said.

“Why and on what grounds and perceived benefit to the people of Ceredigion was the decision made to close Market Street.”

A Ceredigion council spokesperson said: “The Safe Zone orders remain in place.

“The last decision was to stop closing roads on a daily basis during off peak times.

“Other elements remain in Aberystwyth and elsewhere.

“Likewise, changes to parking restrictions and additional disabled bays remain in place.

“This enables the council to resume measures if the number of people visiting towns increase as the country is still in a pandemic.

“The council is currently reviewing the measures in the lead up to Easter.

“The review will take into account feedback to the surveys that were undertaken, the tier level we’re in and the likely number of visitors.”