Leader of Basildon Council Gavin Callaghan has called on Councillor Kevin Bentley of Essex County Council to make Billericay and Wickford High Streets pedestrian zones, to help keep people queueing outside shops safe from traffic while maintaining social distancing.
In his letter Cllr Callaghan said: “With retail shops reducing their customer density inside their premises this will inevitably lead to queues outside, greater density in and around entrances, and indeed greater density on the high street as a whole. Pedestrian passage that adheres to a 2-metre distancing rule on a pavement between a road in use by traffic and a queue for a shop will become impossible; pedestrians will inevitably step off the curbs and into the road. This is very dangerous.
“Accordingly, we want to propose the full pedestrianisation of the full length of Billericay and Wickford High Streets between 6am – 6pm, 7 days a week, for an initial period up until 1st February 2021, where it will then be reviewed.
“It is vital that the County Council respond quickly with their ideas to keep our roads safe. We look forward to working with them on this issue.”
