TRADERS and business leaders in Lampeter should be given an opportunity to air their views on traffic issues in College Street, according to town mayor Cllr Hag Harris.

His comments follow an offer of a meeting from Ceredigion County Council highway maintenance officer Phil Jones in the wake of concerns over the erection of bollards.

Traders claim the bollards will hamper deliveries, while the local authority argues they will prevent illegal parking on pavements and increase the safety of pedestrians.

In an email to Mr Jones, Cllr Harris said, while he welcomed the offer to meet, he still felt that traders and residents along with representatives of the town council, college and Chamber of Trade should also be invited to give their views.

“They are, after all, the ones who have a daily experience of traffic issues on College Street,” he said, adding that Victoria Hall would seem the obvious venue for such a meeting.

“There is little point me regurgitating all the contents of our previous conversations or emails,” added Cllr Harris.

“However, I remain convinced that the installation of bollards will lead to severe traffic congestion. This, as you seem to expect, will lead to the eventual removal of on-street parking with resultant disastrous consequences for traders on the street.

“I again request that before any further works are carried out on the bollards a full analysis is made of alternative solutions such as narrowing the wider sections of pavement.

“As a point of fact, not all businesses have rear access facilities. The unintended consequences of carrying out this proposed work prior to looking at all available alternatives are severe. I am articulating the concerns of traders, residents and visitors to Lampeter.”

Cllr Harris said any stroll he now took along College Street was “long and problematic” and offered to accompany Mr Jones along the street to meet and discuss the concerns of traders first-hand.

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