A petition to save temporary outdoor seating on Penarth Esplanade has been launched.

The petition is calling for the Vale of Glamorgan Council to reconsider its decision to remove the seating which currently occupies 13 parking spaces.

Traders have been told by the council to remove the extra seating by June 30, when the licence expires.

The petition's initial target was to achieve 100 signatures, but after reaching the number very quickly, the target eventually changed to 2,000. "More and more people keep signing and sharing, and it's been great," said Jemma Jemma Angove, a postperson for Royal Mail who lives in Penarth and started the petition.

"I didn't realise the outdoor seating was only temporary. When they put it up, I thought it was amazing, particularly after everything with COVID. It brought a new vibrancy to the seafront and it was a welcome change from the row of cars that used to be there."

But when Jemma found out about the council's decision to remove the extra seating by June 30, she knew something had to be done. "You've got local businesses that have suffered immensely through the COVID-19 pandemic, so why would they [council] decide to take something away that is bringing something to the community and helping local businesses?"

Jemma has also emailed Mr Miles Punter, director of Environment and Housing at the Vale of Glamorgan Council about the petition and strong reaction from the residents of Penarth but is still waiting for a response.

At the time of writing this article, the petition received 1,664 signatures.

Nub News has contacted the Vale of Glamorgan Council for comment.

Penarth Esplanade traders have also been contacted for comment.

Click here to view the petition.