Please help to save local hospitality and retail businesses along St Benedicts Street, Norwich by supporting a temporary three month pedestrianisation initiative which will help to halt the damage on our industry and rebuild customer confidence during the Covid 19 pandemic by providing the use of safe outside space for customers. 

With the government suggesting that customers should eat outside and a long hot summer ahead, businesses are already nervous of the impact this will have on trade. For small independent restaurants with less than 30 covers, running at half trade may mean they cannot open or worse still, will soon be closing for good. Access for deliveries and private parking spaces will still be granted and the road parallel can take the traffic flow without too much interruption.

The street itself does currently have parking bays for short stay parking but can never be relied on as customer parking as they get filled up quickly but there are four large car parks within easy reach which prove much more reliable than these anyway. 

Pedestrianisation has also been statistically proven to have a positive impact on the retail sector as customers are shown to stay in the location for longer spaces of time which generally leads to a higher spend. 

Less cars within City centres generally will also of course have a positive impact on the planet.

Even if you’re not a fan of this long term, please give us the opportunity to help save local Hospitality businesses by supporting a short term pedestrianisation plan until the virus eases and diners feel safe to dine inside again, side by side.