Richmond Council confirmed today that it is considering ways of supporting local businesses following the launching of a petition calling for weekend road closures to help cafes and restaurants offer an outdoor service and rebuild their businesses after the lockdown.

The petition on change.org, launched by Stefanie Wedge has attracted over 1430 supporters and called for the local weekend closures to support the local community and economy.

Today, Cllr Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Services Committee, said:"We know that it is a tough time at the moment for local businesses. From 15 June, we will see more local businesses re-opening.

"The Council are working hard on a wide range of plans outlining how we can support businesses coming out of lockdown.

"Pedestrianisation is one option in a toolkit of options available to improve pedestrian and cycling infrastructure across the borough.

"Richmond Borough has already begun work on a Post-Covid Transport Action Plan, focussing our efforts on town centres, schools and key cycle routes.

"Once we receive greater clarity over funding, we can look at deploying further measures and support.

"The Council is also looking at other support we can offer businesses, including our efforts to distribute available grant funding, and a new shop local campaign that will shortly be launching.

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"I would invite the petitioner and other interested residents to get in contact with the Council and their Ward Councillors, so that we can better understand the detail behind their proposals and work together to see how best we can support the wider business community."

Lisa Wyborn, Secretary of the local traders group Teddington Together, said today:"Sorry, this is just not feasible. There are several traders that rely on customers being able to park to pick up deliveries.

"Also some businesses have clients that come in from outside of Teddington to use their services this would mean they would lose customers."

Lucy Rock, a committee member and treasurer of Teddington Together said:" It is incredibly expensive to close roads and redirect traffic. We organise the Christmas Lights Up festival every year, believe me that it's a massive undertaking and a huge cost. It's a lovely idea but as both Broad Street and High Street are on bus routes this is unworkable."