PANDEMIC safe zone measures will be retained in four Ceredigion towns, with an Aberystwyth councillor warning the changes were having a “detrimental effect”.

Changes were introduced by Ceredigion council during the pandemic to widen pavements, introduce one-way systems and close some roads to “ensure public safety” and abide by social distancing rules.

The changes did not prove universally popular, and now the council has said some of the measures will be retained in Cardigan, New Quay, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth.

The four towns will see experimental traffic regulation orders (ETROs) put in place, with the first six months considered as a “consultation period” following cabinet approval on Tuesday, 1 February.

One ETRO relates to parking restrictions and the other manages ‘moving’ regulations which include one way traffic flows, prohibitions of right/left turns and no entry.

A report to cabinet states that after the end of the initial six month period for objections the council can decided to either “revoke, amend or make permanent the ETRO” with the report to cabinet this week, adding elements in the current orders are to be included “with a view to making them permanent.”

The thriving communities overview and scrutiny committee discussed the proposal in November.

Cllr Ceredig Davies criticised the plans for Aberystwyth, saying they were having a “detrimental effect” not only on businesses but on “thousands” of people living in the town centre.

During that meeting he said that residents are “bearing the brunt of these traffic orders” and called for a “full assessment” of the impact of the current restrictions and the new plans on all traders in the town instead of “doing it on the hoof.”

Cardigan councillor Catrin Miles said it needed to be “made clear here that the traffic will still continue to flow through the centre of town, there’s no question here of closing streets,” referring to concerns about increased traffic on College Row during lockdown.

Cllr Dafydd Edwards, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways, said: “Adjustments were made to our coastal towns during the early stages of the pandemic to ensure people could enjoy Ceredigion safely and responsibly.

“As we move forward, we can see that some of these initial adjustments are proving beneficial to the layout of our towns to ensure ease of access and safety to everyone who lives and visits these places.”

The future of safe zone measures

ABERYSTWYTH: Widened pavements retained at Pier Street, Chalybeate Street, Terrace Road; replacing disabled parking on Market Street with prohibition of waiting - similar retained on Pier Street. Goods vehicle loading bays retained on Chalybeate Street, Pier Street, Terrace Road, Portland Steet; no waiting and disabled parking on sections of Baker Street, Laura Street, Eastgate; one way retained on Pier Street, Bath Street, Terrace Road with no turning on Eastgate, King Street, Portland Street, Portland Road, Queens Road, Bath Street.

ABERAERON: Widened pavements and disabled parking retained at Market Street, with no waiting here and Cadwgan Place, and blue badge parking on Victoria Street and Alban Square. One way traffic retained at Lower Regent Street with turning restrictions at Waterloo Street and Glan y Mor.

CARDIGAN: Widened footway retained at a number of town centre locations, along with the introduction of a loading bay on High Street, disabled parking nearby and retained on Priory Street; new prohibition of waiting at any time on a section of High Street while retaining it on Priory Street and Pendre. nOne way on College Row retained; one ways on Pwllhai and Chancery Lane with restrictions on turns from Upper Mwldan onto College Row.

NEW QUAY: Prohibition of parking on South John Street; disabled parking retained on Glanmor Terrace; one way on Water Street with turning restrictions on Marine Terrace and High Street.