READERS have had their say on whether Conwy Quay should remain a traffic-free zone after the local authority extended it beyond the summer holidays.

Conwy County Borough Council, which had implemented the traffic-free zone at the quay from the end of July to late September, said the measure will now remain in place until after the October half-term holiday.

The measure was originally brought in ahead of a predicted busy school summer holiday season, however the council said it decided to enforce the extension following consultation with residents.

“We had positive feedback from residents and visitors about the traffic free zone at Conwy Quay over the summer,” a council spokesperson said. “So we’ve decided to extend this until the end of October, after the half term holiday.”

Pioneer readers shared their views on the possibility of temporary measure being enforced permanently.

“I completely understand,” one said. “Driving is getting dangerous [due to] the way some people are parking, and most people fail to use the crossings too.”

Another said: “Automatic barriers that can only be operated by permits should be in place.”

A third said: “It should be traffic free all the time. Such a busy place.”

Another commented: “I thought it was good idea, but now not a lot of people follow it, then when you get into Conwy itself everyone is everywhere anyway. Now it’s more of a feature to walk on the old bridge.”

A fifth added: “Permits [on the quay] should be for emergency services only; no local permits.”

While someone else said: “I think keeping the one way system over the bridge is a better idea.”

Parking restrictions on Castle Street, which were initially included in the plan, are no longer being enforced following opposition from businesses. It had aimed to free up pedestrian space and enable shoppers to queue outside nearby premises while coronavirus restrictions were in place during the busy tourist period, with motorists advised to use pay and display parking at Vicarage Gardens and Market Place.

One trader on Castle Street said: “The restrictions on Castle Street were not helpful, and I think the council realised after speaking with a lot of traders speak and responded to that.

“After the Welsh Government changed the [coronavirus] rules the parking restrictions didn’t help social distancing, so there was not a requirement for it.”