A BUSY city centre street in Salisbury is to become totally pedestrianised this summer as part of a trial enabling restaurateurs to put out additional tables and chairs.

Queen Street,which runs alongside the Guildhall Square, is currently pedestrianised between 10am and 4pm, seven days a week – enforced by removable bollards – with only buses, taxis and vehicles loading and unloading being allowed to use it outside of these times, and only in a southerly direction.

But from Monday, June 1 it will become pedestrianised for 24 hours a day, with the trial running until October 4.

To enforce the new arrangements, the removable bollards will be in place for the whole period of the trial.

Philip Whitehead, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for highways, said: “The original request for us to look into this came from one of the local traders, and we have worked with the Business Improvement District to ensure other local businesses support the idea.

“This will help businesses, especially those serving food and drink, as it will allow extra tables and chairs to be placed on the highway.

“The situation will be closely monitored during the experimental period, with the possibility of making it permanent should the result be positive.”

Cyclists will continue to be able to use Queen Street at any time of the day. Steve Godwin of the Business Improvement District said: “We did the consultation with traders on behalf of Wiltshire Council and they were all very pro the idea even those that are not restaurants, such as Allum & Sidaway and Cotswold Outdoor.

“They were all supportive. Their main concern was whatever happens, the table and chairs must not block their frontage and not stop people from looking in the windows.

“Businesses along there have a good business relationship and they felt it would bring footfall that is there on the square to their area of the city.”

Eateries in Queen Street include Wildwood Restaurant, Nando’s and Well Natural with other businesses including Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

Salisbury City Council backed the scheme last month.

Restaurants wishing to place additional tables and chairs on the public highway will need to apply for Street Trading Consent. Advice on applying can be found at wiltshire.gov.uk/streettrading.