Covid-era social distancing bollard turns shopping street into ‘ghost town’

A shopping street has been turned into a "ghost town" by a bollard installed during the Covid pandemic to allow for better social distancing , business owners have claimed.

The bollard was introduced in October 2020 in the middle of Baker Street, Weybridge , to reduce traffic, with the hopes that it would give pedestrians more space.

While initially a temporary measure, the installation was kept after Covid restrictions were lifted and has now been made permanent by Surrey county council following a consultation.

However, the move has angered business owners in Baker Street, which is lined with independent shops and cafes, who claim that the reduction in traffic has led to a fall in trade.

Several shops have called for the bollard to be removed and the local MP is trying to arrange a meeting between them and the council.

Laura Slee, who runs Piajeh, a ladies boutique shop, with her mother, said: "I don't remember having a say in it and they never should have done this.

"It's quite frustrating because Covid turned everything upside down , we asked to have the barrier removed, and businesses are closing because of it and they couldn't care less.

"We have our regular customers, but not everyone knows we are here. It doesn't always occur to people to explore Baker Street but those who drove up here would see the shops and stop off."

In the space of a year, several businesses on Baker Street have closed, including Step 39, a gift shop, and sk:n, a laser hair removal service.

Others, like Lola Jones, a fashion boutique, have relocated to the nearby town of Farnham.

Matthew Burdon from Weybridge Audio, a shop that sells Hi-Fi and home entertainment systems, said he was not affected as badly as others because the store operates online – but said he pitied his neighbours who had been left worse off.

"The shops that are still operating are thinking about leaving," he said.

"Thriving and busy businesses will move from the town. I don't know if we will stay here when it comes to renewing our lease in three to four years, but the shop has been in Weybridge since 1968."

Moira, who asked not to give her surname, runs Canine Beauty, a pet groomer.

She said: "It's very sad, and the community will become a ghost town – not everybody here has disposable income to spend thousands on marketing.

"The council is so far removed from the struggles of day-to-day life. People used to use this road as a cut through but now a 10-minute journey takes 40 to 45 minutes."

Vehicles can still partly access Baker Street but the bollard has split the road in half, and motorists can no longer use it as a cut-through to avoid the town centre.

Pedestrians, cyclists, and authorised vehicles are still able to use the road as they once did.

Some residents have praised the reduction in traffic, saying it has made the street safer and quieter.

Vasilis Sarafidis, who lives on Baker Street, said the bollard was "very important for us otherwise there is too much traffic . It's very quiet as it should be, it's very nice."

He added: "There are also elderly people over the road who will appreciate it. Cars will see the shops exist but if they continue driving up to the roundabout near Sainsbury's, there's not going to be anywhere for them to stop. There would be a lot of traffic to stop here."

Tim Oliver, the leader of Surrey county council, said the bollard had made the road safer.

He said: "The view from a number of residents is that the road barrier has actually made shopping along Baker Street more attractive.

"It was previously a very busy and dangerous rat run but it is now much easier to find parking places and it is a pleasantly quiet road to visit for shopping or enjoying the hospitality businesses."

Ben Spencer , the MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, said he had requested a joint meeting with Mr Oliver, the Baker Street businesses, and Surrey Highways to discuss the issue.